When Lightworking Isn’t Enough
Yeah, I said it.
First off, what the hell is Lightworking? Lightworking is considered a New Age concept and involves engaging meaningfully in positively transforming, expanding, and/or uplifting work where the intent is to better the universal consciousness through service. It entails a lot of clarifying of intention as well thoughts in general, consciously directing one’s energies and actions in a positive manner, and, well, some kind of non-sarcastic faith in something greater than yourself.
[For some really interesting and practical articles, see Steve Pavlina’s stuff online, or check out anything written by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D, or alternately you could sashay your hipster ass to your local bookstore and just kinda bumble around in the New Age section while trying to not let people see you, lest they think you hold out some kind of really uncool, totally non-ironic hope for humanity.
In truth, what we now refer to as Lightworking has been around for aeons. Case in point — neolithic peoples had shamans whose main responsibility was to connect the rest of the tribe to the Unseen Worlds for the higher and greater good of all. Why, even many longstanding organized mainstream religions contain elements of Lightwork. Imagine that. Lightworking can also be viewed simply as trying to act in a manner true to one’s essential nature as a being born of inherent divinity, light and good.
Betcha thought I was going to talk about “fuckery” and “kicking Dr. Phil’s ass” today, dintcha?
Ole Dr. Dingge E. Dingg likes to mix it up. I think I’m going to do a few Drunken Monkey kung-fu moves just to celebrate. That’s better.
Sometimes Lightworkers get into trouble when they encounter beings of, shall we say, less than such singular or positive intention. Such beings include: mean people, unspeakable monsters* and their ilk, overweening narcissists, psychopaths, sociopaths, and anything with the word “douche” or “asshat” attached. I think that about covers it.
My saintly old Gradual School advisor once told me “Ding, sometimes it’s really important to know how to intimidate people.” This, of course, freaked my lil pie-eyed, idealistic Universal Caretaker self right out and right into some excessively chunky shoes, a sweater vest that I won’t admit to owning but rather borrowing, a carton of mentholated Marboros, and this haircut, but that’s a story for another day.
I’ve met a lot of lightworking folk in the last year who could use a dose of protection from the Dark Side Of The Force’s minions. Luckily I’ve got Evil Manservant Jeebes to fight my battles for me. And if you’ll recall, EMJ is actually mostly all about this. If you’re too lazy to click, here I am quoting my own vainglorious ass in all its vain and assy glory.
Everyone should have an Evil Manservant. Either that, or everyone should personify all undesirable aspects of his/her psyche into a sneering, awkwardly formal yet diabolical valet.
Words to live by, people. Words to live by.
By now I’m sure you’re asking yourself What the hell is Dr. Ding on about? Or maybe Is she smoking the crack cocaines? Maybe she really is a lucite-heeled poledancer down at the biweekly Sons of Hermann Krackenkokainefest after all? Huh.
So stay tuned for our next exciting episode, where all shall be revealed. Next up: Self Improvement DIY: How To Make Your Very Own Intrapsychic Sith Lord For Fun And Profit.
*Cthulhu, mostly. I gotta admit, the rest of them have their moments.
| Etsy: QueenBodacious |
I’m On Vacation, Bitches
Dr. Ding is enjoying the Arctic temperatures of the veryfine Lincoln, NE. Yesterday it was fawty degrees outside. I loved it. It stirs my Midwestern blood, made phlegmatic from the sultry southern stylings of Houston weather.
Last night my posse and I paid homage to The Bel-Airs at the infamous Zoo Bar. Shari got the Bel-Airs to give Dr. Ding a shout-out in the form of the song “Sugar Mama” (which in my head is of course spelled Sugar Momma). It was HOT. Gail and I two-stepped like a house afire, and I shook my sweet fancy ass all night long. Well, I shook it until about 11:50, when we left b/c Shari had to get up early to do a fundraiser. We are, after all, mature and classy broads with social obligations beyond mere rumpshaking and the frequent shouting of the phrase “Sang it, baby! Who’s ya mama!” at well-timed intervals. But Oh what a time we had.
I’ll post pics later, if I can be bothered.
I’m on vacation, bitches.
Now if you’ll buhscuse me, Dr. Ding got some sashay latte to drink, some more Doritoes to consume di-reckly out of the bag, and a pilgrimage to ShopKo to undertake whereupon I will commence to purchasing some very reasonably priced casual clothing. Very busy here.
| Etsy: QueenBodacious |
Dear Dr. Ding
Dear Dr. Ding:
I hope to Goddess you can help me.
I practice Wicca and have done so since my early teens…I work as a receptionist/transcriptionist in an office where we’re supposed to be in the business of helping people with drug and alcohol problems. (I have noticed that some of your other “Dingers” whove wrote in work for these kinds of agencies, so maybe they could comment too for added input – I would totally welcome it!!) I am 28 years old, have a college degree in theater, and as I mentioned I am a practicing pagan, and not just on weekends! I am not what you would call a fluffy bunny pagan. I don’t advertise my faith, but also I don’t keep it a secret. There are a couple of inconspicuous altar items on my desk, and sometimes I wear faerie earrings, but other that those things, you’d really have to look hard. I take Goddess-worship seriously, I don’t do it for fashion reasons or to show off my feminist cred.
My problem is that my boss — a recovering alcoholic with like (more…)
| Etsy: QueenBodacious |
Dear Dr. Ding
Dear Dr. Ding:
I see your write about Buddhism on this site sometimes and I would like to know more about what type of Buddhism I should practice to gain some kind of inner clarity and peace. I have done research on the topic of eastern spiritual practices and Buddhism in general appeals to me the most — I don’t know where to start though.
Can you offer me some suggestions? I would like to start some kind of meditating soon.
Thanks Dr. Ding. I appreciate it.
Leprechaun Lady
Dear Leprechaun Lady:
First off, congratulations for taking time out of your probably very busy life to embark on a legitimate, informed spiritual journey, as opposed to the illegitimate kind where you put leaves in your hair and smoke hydroponic pot while dreamily announcing to everyone your new name is “RavensChylde” and that you’re going to start channeling Gaia’s menstrual wisdom for $125 a pop despite the fact that Mother Earth doesn’t have an actual vagina.
But I digress. Gleefully.
In regards to your question, Zen Buddhism has the reputation for being the most kind of bare-bones, straightforward approach to enlightenment. However, even within the context of that tradition, there’s a lot to learn about different lineages and styles.
If you’re a real leprechaun, or at least if you identify with the characteristics of fae folk, (more…)
| Etsy: QueenBodacious |
2007 Reflections, 2008 Dreams
Dr. Ding never was too good at New Year’s resolutions; I make them all backwards and counterintuitive-like.
Dr. Ding once made a resolution to eat a LOT more chocolate, and well looky looky…it’s good for you now! Cause and effect, to be sure.
Superheroine JeAnne posted this very clever set of questions from which I’m cribbing here. Rock on, girl.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you had never done before? – Took two cruises with a very dear friend. Swam with dolphins, a lifelong dream. Went to a conference in Laguna Beach. Started blogging in earnest. Joined Twitter and learned everyone goes out a LOT more than I do.
2. What countries did you visit? – Mexico, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island, California.
3. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? – More free time. More naps. Getting back into sitting meditation. Regular workouts. More dates with The Beyonce. A truly stellar blog logo. Dingish t-shirts on sale in CafePress.
4. What was your biggest achievement of the year? – Tie: 1) Started investing money. 2) Completed 20 miles of the Avon Walk in Chicago, June 2007.
5. Did you suffer any illness or injury? – Couple bouts of flu. Epicondylitis. Racked my left Achilles. Two vein surgeries. Ew.
6. What was the best thing you bought? — Anything on Etsy, especially Surlyramics’ stuff. A Dremel set for The Beyonce. Memory-foam mattress topper.
7. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? – Happier, but tireder.
8. Did you fall in love in 2007? -- It seems like every other week I find out something entirely new and absolutely wonderful about The Beyonce. Despite his peculiar insistence on keeping the kitchen counters neat and clean, I remain In Love with him. I can’t help it. He heals me. Well, that and he’s a stone fox.
9. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? — Vintage 1987 drag queen-meets-former-GothPunk shitkicker, quietly supported by nerd glasses and Ex Officio underpants, and a team of Etsy.com artisans. Plus several pair of sweats from Target, black Uggs, and a penchant for t-shirts from The Mill and The Salt Dogs.
10. What do you wish you’d done more of? What didn’t you get in 2007 that you want for 2008? – I wish I’d gone back to the gym after my 2 surgeries, because now I’m very out of the habit. In 2008, I have the following goals and objectives:
1) Get married. To The Beyonce. In a FIERCE wedding dress. Not sure yet what rhymes with husband.
2) Figure out what rhymes with husband.
3) Plan a trip to Tibet, to take place within the next few years. I’ll be going with Dr. Kat and anyone else who dares accompany us.
4) Get up every day at 6 a.m. to meditate, pray to The Inner Silver Go-Go Boots of GirlJesus, do a lil’ yoga, walk.
5) Remain injury-free when I get back to weight lifting this Spring, and further, if I do get injured, find a neon-pink sparkly cold pack so that the whole experience is more festive.
6) Finish writing Drag Queens From Outer Space! Or: How I Learned To Love Managed Care™
7) Have a costume party for Halloween like I did back in the 1990s where everyone has to (more…)
| Etsy: QueenBodacious |
Amitabha: Buddha Of Boundless Light
Dr. Ding had been feeling uncharacteristically unsettled for the last several hours, ever since departing the soul-shrivelling deep-freeze that was this morning’s YogaFit experience. Seeking consolation, I recalled a Tibetan Buddhism Deck of oracle cards I’d once given The Beyonce, so I got them out, shuffled and picked a random card. Turned out to be Amitabha, Buddha of Boundless Light. It said:
Amitabha rules over the western paradise of Sukhavati, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in which all beings enjoy unbounded happiness.
Amitabha’s color is red, his element is fire, and he is associated with life beyond the setting sun. In his hands he holds a lotus, the flower that is born in the mud and finds its way to the surface of the water to flower — like our true nature. He represents the ability to transform malice into compassion and opens a door to salvation that does not depend upon a tireless dedication to transformation.
Feel your substance,
bones, flesh, and blood,
saturated with cosmic essence.
Here’s a lovely image of Amitabha hisself.
Confession: a major part of why Dr. Ding is attracted to Tibetan Buddhism, as opposed say, to Zen or Nirichen, is the bling. Yeah, you heard right. The spiritual bling. The thangkas, those gorgeously ornate and intricate scroll paintings, just fascinate me. I could stare at some of them for hours. I adore the shrines, the figurines, the nifty robes. What’s not to love about a spiritual tradition whose head dude gets to wear a hat like this?
Or where you get to play with bowls that sing?
Where you get the option of spinning your prayers instead of speaking them.
Dr. Ding appreciates the sheer variety of beautiful, shiny, and generally cool stuff to look at in Tibetan-style Buddhism. But I also find it to be exceptionally compassionate and embracing of our humanity; the part of Amitabha’s “message” that resonated most deeply with me is his burning desire to ease humanity’s suffering. When we awaken to the boundless, illuminating wisdom within, that inner light that warms and also guides us to salvation, we discover that it was there all along, that like the lotus, it simply needed the right conditions to emerge and come more fully into being.
Deep!
Short version: No more cold, pinchy-assed, boring YogaFit classes for Dr. Ding. In the future, I will not wait 3 hours and 25 minutes to end my suffering; there is nothing to prove and no contests to win, and so suffering is needless in this kind of frozen-fannyed context. I can and will continue to enjoy yoga for myself only; there is no need to share it by becoming a techer, as I already do quite a bit for the world. And that’s enough.
Woot!
I know, I know…Dr. Ding can’t stay in Yoda Mode for more than a few lines. Luckily.
| Etsy: QueenBodacious |