Dear friends,
Many have heard or used the word attunement. Here is one dictionary definition of it: Attunement is being aware of and responding to the emotions of another person and is the process by which we form close relationships. It is that essential component that allows us to feel close and connected to others. But why talk about that here? What does that have to do with spirituality? In short, everything! In that realm, however, it is not about emotions and not about any particular individual.
We all want to know what Spirit wants of us. What should we do next? What are our life lessons? Is that person or job right for us? Am I on the right life path? After all, we know what we think. Might be nice to know what someone much smarter than we are thinks, eh?
I would say for Christians, they are trying to tune into Jesus. The catch phrase “What would Jesus do?” has this at its heart. For myself, I try my best to attune myself to Yogananda. But how is that done?
First and foremost, the heart must be quieted. I have written about this before. If our heart is shouting, whispers will not be heard. The radio frequency is being broadcast and is just fine. The question becomes: what station are you tuned to? Mistuning your radio dial (remember radios?) results in static or, at the least, an inability to hear what is being broadcast on the station you are wanting to hear. The signal is there if we tune our hearts to it appropriately and consciously.
Once the heart is quieted, we must really want to know what that station is broadcasting. Too often we ask as follows: “I really want to know your will for me… unless it’s that, which of course I have no interest in at all!” If you ignore your friend’s input, over time that friend will stop sharing thoughts with you.
I have learned over the decades that sensitive attunement really is everything. Am I always attuned to that station of my choice? No! But I am better at it than I used to be, and the intention is sincere. If we are sincerely trying and sincerely making it our life’s goal, Spirit has a way of bailing us out even if we are “off.” If your child is really trying at something the natural response is encouragement, not a rebuke or some sort of failing grade.
Life is a process and not an end point… until we reach endlessness. Between here and there we try to point in the right direction and keep our compass pointing North as best we are able. What more can be asked of us?
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the Gang at East West