First of all, I accept "truth" as contextual (per individual, situation, etc), so I do not expect it to feel like something written in stone. Then, I psychically reach out (as if scanning a dark room) and wait until I feel a connection that is compatible to me.....mostly I feel the connection in the gut and the heart.
    Once I feel that connection, I know it is my truth....for this moment and situation, anyway.....

When I am free from the egoic need of validation. When I accept worth as a given, not something achieved, no more or less than any other. Divine just because; surrounded only by divinity.

I almost always follow my heart. It's a chore just to blend in enough rationality to be relatively functional in this world.
   It's g a good thing for me that my heart and my intuition are most often aligned.

By your actions, show them that you have heard them, you have understood them and fully considered their needs as you have your own. Show them that you know them, accept them, and support them.
   

I am not seeking, for to seek (by the definition) is to first define a thing as outside of myself or my possession--else how can I seek it? First there is hide, then there is seek.

As for becoming, for me it is as I see it is for all people. I am becoming only in the sense of becoming aware of(accepting) what I have always been.
Obviously, I have previously hidden this awareness from myself.

Never have liked it!
---OMG, that puts me in conflict with Conflict, does it not???
Oh, dear. Oh, Dear!!

More importantly, what is apology's relationship to true remorse, regret, AND resolution.

I have no problem with offering an apology, but may it never come until I have truly felt remorse for my action, and set into my heart a strong and honest intention/plan not to ever revisit this offense or one of its near kin.

Then the apology has worth, rather than the pointless insult on injury of something offered for mere token behavior to ease a guilty conscience or appease the anger of the one insulted/hurt.
  
My relationship to apology? May it only come when it is deeply heartfelt, when I have personally felt the pain that I have caused.

it is only my self-delusion that periodically makes me think I am separate from others.

My wife, Kathy, of course. Nine gaily dressed crones in sunhats, my muses. A host of other friends in this world and not, that I am aware of and am not.

"Anyone who imagines that their good fortune is achieved simply by their own merit or efforts is fooling themselves." Jon Pertee (a timber-frame contractor/yoga instructor that provides my day job at present), 2004

Thanks to Satya-seer for bringing this one up.
I just could not resist.

   Before I start...love and blessings to you all dear friends!

"Into Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel has been my favorite over the last 20+ years. It's beautiful and passionate, but it is also the first love song that I shared with Kathy, in the beginning of our relationship. It has been our song every since.



"In Your Eyes"

love I get so lost, sometimes
days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
when I want to run away
I drive off in my car
but whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are

all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside

in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
the heat I see in your eyes

love, I don't like to see so much pain
so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive

and all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside

in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light,
the heat I see in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes
in your eyes in your eyes


This song by Loreena McKennitt was probably our next  love song. It speaks not only of earthly, but mystical love....a unity of lovers.





[Lyrics]
Upon a darkened night
the flame of love was burning in my breast
And by a lantern bright
I fled my house while all in quiet rest


Shrouded by the night
And by the secret stair I quickly fled
The veil concealed my eyes
while all within lay quiet as the dead


CHORUS
Oh night thou was my guide
of night more loving than the rising sun
Oh night that joined the lover
to the beloved one
transforming each of them into the other


Upon that misty night
in secrecy, beyond such mortal sight
Without a guide or light
than that which burned so deeply in my heart
That fire t'was led me on
and shone more bright than of the midday sun
To where he waited still
it was a place where no one else could come

CHORUS

Within my pounding heart
which kept itself entirely for him
He fell into his sleep
beneath the cedars all my love I gave
From o'er the fortress walls
the wind would brush his hair against his brow
And with its smoothest hand
caressed my every sense it would allow

CHORUS

I lost myself to him
and laid my face upon my lover's breast
And care and grief grew dim
as in the morning's mist became the light
There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
there they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
there they dimmed amongst the lilies fair

Now, I stray a bit....it's love having fun. Kathy introduced me to Bonnie. Every since, Bonnie has been been the soundtrack to much of our life together. I can't hear Bonnie without feeling my love for Kathy .
    This is from early on in our relationship....remaining a favorite..

verse 1
People are talkin, talking 'bout people
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it
They think we're lovers kept under covers
I just ignore it, but they keep saying
We laugh just a little too loud
We stand just a little too close
We stare just a little too long
Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin'

chorus
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?

verse 2
I feel so foolish, I never noticed
You'd act so nervous, could you be falling for me?
It took a rumor to make me wonder
Now I'm convinced I'm going under
Thinking 'bout you every day
Dreaming 'bout you every night
Hoping that you feel the same way
Now that we know it, let's really show it, Darlin'

chorus

bridge
Let's give them something to talk about
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?

chorus
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?

chorus

Give this one a try....it has quite a bit of power.
love and wonder,
 dear ones,
CG

In the gift of a genuine smile.

In birdsong.

In the art of genius or the banal.

In the whisper or the roar of the wind.

In sun or moon rise.

In the unrestrained and yet unaffected release of pain or joy.

When I have 'eyes' and peace to see, I see beauty in all natural arisings  

that reflect a part of me (and ALL) that I can percieve only through reflection
off the life that surrounds me.

Now and again, a few tears come from just doing something with Kathy....
or thinking of her....
sometimes when the muses have spoken something particularly touching....
on occasion when art, nature, or even some part of my self have spoken intensely with messages of insight or love....
blessings and joy, dear ones,
CG

That standards, values, truths, and the like have only worth as they relate to the situation and individual.

"being there" is the largest part of the effort. Acknowledging the brillance just about completes it.
blessings and wonder,
CG