Live Ecstatically

Last night, I dreamt I was helping someone write a book. I remember having several dreams like this. So I realized that, no doubt, this is what I do at night while my body sleeps, since I pray to Azrael to take me to people who need my help and inspiration (see The Magic Bowl That’s Never Empty). Therefore, I’m a muse. I get satisfaction from being an editor and helping others write, whether I’m awake or sleeping. But I get real joy when I’m writing. Creating something new, whether a book, a piece of art, a video, or a baby is ecstatic (see Give Birth to Your Baby).

In 2000, I published my first book, Ecstatic Living: How to Revitalize Your Relationships, Career, Body, Mind & Soul. In the Preface, I explained what I meant by ecstatic: “I don’t mean overpowering sensual delight or spiritual rapture, although those experiences may well be part of an ecstatic life; I mean ‘ec,’ the prefix for ‘out of,’ and ‘static,’ or ‘not moving or progressing.' In other words, out of the ruts of negative thinking, stuck emotions, bad habits, inaction, and unsatisfying situations.”

At the end of the Preface, I wrote, “During my 36-year search, I learned that life is bliss to an enlightened person, but until we attain that high state of consciousness, we have to learn lessons and work off our karma debts. However, we don’t have to do it the hard way, through trial and error. Learning and working can be fun, and there are ways to make it easy, even effortless. Herman Aihara, in 7 Basic Macrobiotic Principles wrote: ‘Do-o-Raku…means to enjoy Tao (to live with appreciation all the time wherever we are). When we are aware of nature’s impartial and absolute justice…, we can begin to enjoy our lives fully, by distributing infinite joy and thankfulness to everyone we meet. Interestingly, Do-o-Raku also means hobby…to live our life as a hobby ‒ which is what it is! Anything we do is a game…To live in perpetual ecstatic delight is Do-o-Raku.’”

What I wrote 20 years ago is still relevant today. Get out of your rut, learn and do spiritual work, appreciate the Tao, and live ecstatically.