Freedom From Bitterness Pt. 2

A life transformed by the Warrior’s Way is a life that leaves bitterness behind. Following impeccable living means more than adopting new habits; it means embracing a new identity, a new self. This transformation is not something we achieve on our own - it is the work of the Spirit through the new birth, the new you. When we accept and live the Warrior’s Way, we become new creations, not by birthright but through spiritual renewal and hard work. Our old self, with its anger and resentment, is recapitulated and eliminated, and we take on a nature shaped by living the Warrior’s Way through an impeccable lifestyle.

This change isn't superficial. It goes deep, altering our desires and our very nature. As new creations, bitterness no longer fits within the life we now live. It contradicts the new self that impeccability has formed in us. Living as we once did - holding onto grudges, nurturing old hurts - becomes impossible. The Spirit within us, coupled with recapping, pulls us toward forgiveness, reconciliation, and grace. Our transformed nature makes it ‘supernaturally natural’ to align with the Warrior’s Way, including destroying bitterness.

Our new life is also characterized by a new lease on life. The command of the Warrior to destroy bitterness isn't merely a suggestion - it's a call to live consistently with the new life we’ve earned, to live under the impeccability of the Warrior’s Way. The great Spirit now dwells in us, guiding us, comforting us, and leading us away from the things that grieve the Spirit. Bitterness and unforgiveness do more than damage our own hearts - they grieve the Spirit within us. When we hold onto resentment, we resist gentle promptings and disrupt our fellowship with the Spirit.

This sensitivity to the Spirit transforms how we approach every aspect of life. We begin to care deeply about what pleases us, and the Spirit, and what doesn’t. Our words, actions, and thoughts come under Spirit’s guidance, and we desire to reflect the heart of the Warrior. When we let go of bitterness, we make space for joy and peace. We can sense the second attentions presence, even in life’s challenges.

So, does what pleases or grieves the Spirit matter to you? Take a moment to examine your path with heart. Have you been holding onto bitterness or unforgiveness? Recognize that these attitudes stand in the way of the life the Warrior’s Way intends for you. Release them and invite the Spirit to fill you with peace. Then, embrace the freedom that comes from living in step with the Spirit, sensitive to its guidance as it renews your heart and mind. Let's get to work!

Warrior of Lite

Freedom From Bitterness

Bitterness is a destructive force, a subtle poison that seeps into our hearts and settles in like a heavy fog. It begins with anger - perhaps legitimate, perhaps imagined - that lingers. We feel wronged and mistreated. Gradually, we nurse that wound. Bitterness takes root, as we tell ourselves we deserve more, better, or different. It ultimately transforms our outlook, making us resentful toward our circumstances, others, and even life itself.

This corrosive mindset isn’t limited to one area of life. Bitterness doesn’t stay confined; it infiltrates our relationships, our spiritual walk, and our sense of purpose. Bitterness can manifest as dissatisfaction and a relentless sense of entitlement. It distances us from the Spirit and disrupts our peace, making us prone to tremendous amounts of self-importance - not just in our relationship with the Spirit, but also in our commitments to others. It creates a wedge that separates us from living an impeccable life.

How do we free ourselves from the grip of bitterness? Make a list of what is ‘bitter’ to you, (people, situations, places, circumstances, etc.,) and recapitulate it. Thus, putting away bitterness completely - along with every other expression of anger. This command may seem daunting, but the key lies in recognizing the incongruity between bitterness and the Warrior’s Way of living. Living in bitterness is inconsistent with our new identity in the Warrior’s Path. It contradicts everything we’ve experienced through impeccability and recapitulation, everything that the Spirit works within us. There is nothing in bitterness that reflects the nature of a warrior, nothing that echoes love, grace, or forgiveness.

Breaking free from bitterness requires a shift in our thinking, a renewed mindset that aligns with our identity in the Warrior’s Way. If we are truly impeccable, we must acknowledge that the Warrior’s Path transforms us, leading to a new way of living. We cannot cling to the attitudes and behaviors that characterized our old life. We are called to throw off the old self - marked by deceit and corruption - and to embrace a new self, shaped by the principles of the Warrior’s Way and renewed in the spirit of our daily work. (Impeccable behavior, losing self-importance, recapitulation, etc.)

Right now, consider where bitterness might have settled in your heart. Is there a relationship or situation where you’ve been holding onto anger, feeling justified in your resentment? Bitterness is out of place in the life of a warrior. Acknowledge the dissonance between bitterness and your calling in the Warrior’s Way. Recapitulate and cut the internal dialogue for the strength to release the grip of bitterness, to put it away as you would a burden too heavy to carry. 

Begin with a simple action: Meditate and recapitulate to help you let go of this bitterness and live in the freedom of the Warrior’s Way. Let this be the day you choose to walk in the new life you’ve received, leaving the old behind.

Warrior of Lite

Waiting and the Warrior's Way

Waiting can be hard.

Most of us would prefer quick, efficient, and - when possible - instant results and answers.

But waiting is a part of life.

We must wait for seeds to grow into food, for one season to fade into the next, for babies to mature into adults, and for trees to stand tall enough to finally offer shade. Not to mention waiting in line at stores and waiting on the phone for customer service. The list goes on and on…

Like it or not, waiting takes patience.

We can wait days, months, years, or even decades for an answer, for an overdue apology, for the timing to be right, or for a dream to finally come to pass.

Waiting requires courage.

But waiting patiently isn’t an excuse to do nothing.

In the books of Carlos Castaneda, his mentor/teacher don Juan wrote about waiting several times:

"You must wait patiently, knowing that you're waiting, and knowing what you're waiting for. That is the warrior's way. And if it is a matter of fulfilling your promise then you must be aware that you are fulfilling it. Then a time will come when your waiting will be over and you will no longer have to honor your promise.”

"It is up to us as single individuals to oppose the forces of our lives. I have said this to you countless times: Only a warrior can survive. A warrior knows that he is waiting and what he is waiting for; and while he waits, he wants nothing and thus whatever little thing he gets is more than he can take. If he needs to eat, he finds a way, because he is not hungry; if something hurts his body, he finds a way to stop it, because he is not in pain. To be hungry or to be in pain means that the man has abandoned himself and is no longer a warrior; and the forces of his hunger and pain will destroy him."

Just because a specific door isn’t opening, or a particular opportunity isn’t available at this moment doesn’t mean that the great Spirit or life isn’t moving.

Even when we are waiting – the Spirit is working.

So, no matter what you’re facing today, you can ask the Spirit for patience and trust that it is in control of your future. No matter what uncertainty lies before you, when you rely on the great Spirit, you can be someone who waits well.

Warrior of Lite

Why are You so Mad? Pt. 5

One of the hardest things to do in life is to examine yourself. In my experience, it is not easy. 

Let me encourage you to dive deep into your heart. If you are, or have been angry, ask yourself today, “Why is it that I am angry? What has been the result of my anger? Who has been hurt because of it? Have I been allowing the ego to run my life?” If so, begin the journey of the Warrior’s path and become impeccable. 

Meditate: Today I lay down my hurts and fears. Help me understand why I am really angry. Help me to see the result of my anger, if it has been helping or hurting others. If I have hurt others, I ask for the Spirit’s forgiveness. I confess my sin against you, help me to forgive those who have hurt me. I do not want to give the ego an opportunity to hurt my relationship with you great Spirit, nor with others. Help me to forgive, I choose forgiveness. Spirit, teach me to understand your purposes, show me when your original intents are being challenged, and give me the strength to recapitulate the problem righteously. Spirit, please remind me not to let the sun set on my anger. Search me and if there is any offensive way in me, lead me in the Warrior’s Way.

Thought of the Day: I can forgive others because I have followed the Warrior’s Way. I have recapitulated. I can now use controlled folly. I am, once again, whole and free. 

Warrior of Lite

Why are You so Mad? Pt. 4

Have you ever had revenge conversations going on in your mind? Do you go back to discussions and ‘rewrite’ the scene according to what you should have said instead of what you did say? That is an unsettled moment. 

When we do not deal with anger and when we carry it into the following day, we are giving the ego and self-importance a foothold, an opportunity to make things worse. Self-importance gets a hold of us when we do not deal with anger as soon as possible.

When we give ego an opportunity, it can expand small things and make them big. Remember that ego is the father of lies, and can manipulate, steal, kill, and destroy. When we choose to carry our anger into the following day, we allow ego and self-importance to hurt others, and ourselves. 

What is the impeccable advice on the matter? First, daily, make it right! Write down the who, what when, where and why, of your anger, then…guess what? Recapitulate!! Do not let the day end while you are still angry. Get it over as soon as possible. Small bricks build big walls. It separates us from our energy bodies and others. Secondly, choose to forgive. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another and forgiving each other. As my aikido sensei says, “Just. Let. Go.”

Thought of the Day: Choose to forgive daily! Recapitulate these ‘angers’ daily!  

Warrior of Lite