https://www.spreaker.com/show/caravan-conversationsIt is a mystery, and we are called to be present with it. We are called to bring what we are best able to bring to our life. We are called to remember.
As an expedition of the heart, Caravan Conversations, based on the book Caravan of Remembering by Daniel Goodenough, offers a way to ‘remember’ a deeper place inside that can then bloom in your life.There is a value in even the smallest gesture when our hearts remember. It does make a difference. Welcome to the Caravan of Remembering.]]>enSelf-ImprovementCopyright James Tousignanthttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a1c78e93a10073567a8a1618882d4146.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/show/caravan-conversationsSun, 17 Mar 2024 18:55:11 +0000James TousignantJames Tousignantfeeds@spreaker.comWhen “why” is the question we are asking at 3am and life is at a crossroads it would be nice if someone would come to us with a sign from Spirit. It would be so nice to have that kind of certainty about destiny and not just live in the tides of fate....It is a mystery, and we are called to be present with it. We are called to bring what we are best able to bring to our life. We are called to remember.
As an expedition of the heart, Caravan Conversations, based on the book Caravan of Remembering by Daniel Goodenough, offers a way to ‘remember’ a deeper place inside that can then bloom in your life.There is a value in even the smallest gesture when our hearts remember. It does make a difference. Welcome to the Caravan of Remembering.]]>cleanepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-year-of-living-miraculously-in-conversation-with-sanaa-abouayoub-and-morgan-fontaine--53976207
Each month we invite individuals to share their experiences and what it means to co-create the journey of their life’s mission, and the ways they have integrated their reflections from the book into their own lives.

Todays guests are Sanaa Abouayoub and Morgan Fontaine.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53976207Tue, 23 May 2023 20:49:24 +0000James TousignantA Year of Living Miraculously is a year-long offering of conversations with Caravan community members who have been exploring The Caravan of Remembering by Daniel Goodenough. Each month we invite individuals to share their experiences and what it...
Each month we invite individuals to share their experiences and what it means to co-create the journey of their life’s mission, and the ways they have integrated their reflections from the book into their own lives.

Todays guests are Sanaa Abouayoub and Morgan Fontaine.]]>2283clean23fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-year-of-living-miraculously-in-conversation-with-daya-harris--53203260
Each month we invite individuals to share their experiences and what it means to co-create the journey of their life’s mission, and the ways they have integrated their reflections from the book into their own lives.

Todays guest is Daya Harris. As a psycho-spiritual and transition coach Daya supports people in a kind, gentle, and positive with living an authentic, heart-filled, peace-based life while healing old, past, negative stories which keep them from moving forward.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53203260Tue, 14 Mar 2023 20:31:30 +0000James TousignantA Year of Living Miraculously is a year-long offering of conversations with Caravan community members who have been exploring The Caravan of Remembering by Daniel Goodenough. Each month we invite individuals to share their experiences and what it...
Each month we invite individuals to share their experiences and what it means to co-create the journey of their life’s mission, and the ways they have integrated their reflections from the book into their own lives.

Todays guest is Daya Harris. As a psycho-spiritual and transition coach Daya supports people in a kind, gentle, and positive with living an authentic, heart-filled, peace-based life while healing old, past, negative stories which keep them from moving forward.]]>950clean22fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-year-of-living-miraculously-in-conversation-with-carissa-james--53203056
We could say that what was dangerous to the ego last year becomes this year’s miracle. Our format has shifted some, as we are now beginning to meet with members of the Caravan community who have been exploring the questions in the book for some time.

We (James and Carissa) are interested in the lived experiences of each person we speak with, and the ways they have integrated their reflections from The Caravan of Remembering into their own lives.

Like our pattern from last year’s podcast, we will choose a quote from the book and explore it together. Each of us will have been with the quote for at least a week, and will bring what we noticed and explored to the podcast.

Perhaps it is because we tend to notice miracles as they show up in our lived experience that we are bringing in living stories from our community. As the quote below explores, there is also the miracle of consciously co-creating with the being of our life’s mission. We can begin to expect the unexpected in this co-creative exploration, in a way that is also a very safe experience.

"Our work in Caravan assists our horizontal world selves in the work of embodying life mission. Together with the One that sent us we create a container for the work in the horizontal world. There is another kind of miracle that happens with this. Something is created in this that is a kind of life. We co-create the being of our life mission. Like yourself, your life mission is a being that lives in both worlds and moves with you. Your relationship with this being is as ancient as your relationship with Caravan and the One that sent you. Your work here requires your conscious participation in this relationship, at least here in Caravan. The being of your life mission travels with you for the entire journey. It can be your closest friend and greatest protector in times of danger. In fact, the safest place in the horizontal world is traveling with your life mission." The Caravan of Remembering, page 115

We welcome you to join us in this year’s exploring of what it means to co-create the journey of your life’s mission.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53203056Tue, 14 Mar 2023 20:25:31 +0000James TousignantIn 2023, our monthly podcast is called “A Year of Living Miraculously” as a follow up to last years podcast, “A Year of Living Dangerously.” We could say that what was dangerous to the ego last year becomes this year’s miracle. Our format has...
We could say that what was dangerous to the ego last year becomes this year’s miracle. Our format has shifted some, as we are now beginning to meet with members of the Caravan community who have been exploring the questions in the book for some time.

We (James and Carissa) are interested in the lived experiences of each person we speak with, and the ways they have integrated their reflections from The Caravan of Remembering into their own lives.

Like our pattern from last year’s podcast, we will choose a quote from the book and explore it together. Each of us will have been with the quote for at least a week, and will bring what we noticed and explored to the podcast.

Perhaps it is because we tend to notice miracles as they show up in our lived experience that we are bringing in living stories from our community. As the quote below explores, there is also the miracle of consciously co-creating with the being of our life’s mission. We can begin to expect the unexpected in this co-creative exploration, in a way that is also a very safe experience.

"Our work in Caravan assists our horizontal world selves in the work of embodying life mission. Together with the One that sent us we create a container for the work in the horizontal world. There is another kind of miracle that happens with this. Something is created in this that is a kind of life. We co-create the being of our life mission. Like yourself, your life mission is a being that lives in both worlds and moves with you. Your relationship with this being is as ancient as your relationship with Caravan and the One that sent you. Your work here requires your conscious participation in this relationship, at least here in Caravan. The being of your life mission travels with you for the entire journey. It can be your closest friend and greatest protector in times of danger. In fact, the safest place in the horizontal world is traveling with your life mission." The Caravan of Remembering, page 115

We welcome you to join us in this year’s exploring of what it means to co-create the journey of your life’s mission.]]>1877clean21fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-can-you-choose-anything-other-than-your-life-s-mission--52436505
This week, we complete A Year of Living Dangerously with a reflection on choosing anything but our life mission, something that is within us from the beginning and doesn't originate in the horizontal world.

Excerpt:

Here in Caravan, I ask, is there a life that makes sense to live that does not include the reason we were sent? Can you conceive of choosing anything but your life mission?”

The man replied, “Depth psychologist James Hillman addressed this question in his book The Soul’s Code. He referred to what he called the acorn principle. I think he is saying the code of our life mission is within us, and like the mighty oak tree is waiting to unfold over time in the course of our life. He wrote that it is inherent in us from birth, like the acorn, and isn’t created by our life in the horizontal world.

The Caravan of Remembering,Chapter 5, Life Mission Across Culture and Over Time, p.94]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52436505Fri, 13 Jan 2023 21:57:16 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week fifty-two, our final week! This week, we complete A Year of Living Dangerously with a reflection on choosing anything but our life mission, something that is within us from the beginning and doesn't originate in the horizontal world....
This week, we complete A Year of Living Dangerously with a reflection on choosing anything but our life mission, something that is within us from the beginning and doesn't originate in the horizontal world.

Excerpt:

Here in Caravan, I ask, is there a life that makes sense to live that does not include the reason we were sent? Can you conceive of choosing anything but your life mission?”

The man replied, “Depth psychologist James Hillman addressed this question in his book The Soul’s Code. He referred to what he called the acorn principle. I think he is saying the code of our life mission is within us, and like the mighty oak tree is waiting to unfold over time in the course of our life. He wrote that it is inherent in us from birth, like the acorn, and isn’t created by our life in the horizontal world.

The Caravan of Remembering,Chapter 5, Life Mission Across Culture and Over Time, p.94]]>835clean152fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/life-mission-brings-out-the-goodness-in-life-and-our-ability-to-make-a-difference--52374629
Excerpt

When I think about life mission and the basic goodness of people, I wonder how anyone could be doing their life mission and not be in a space of gratitude and kindness. Life mission brings out the goodness of life. Life mission keeps our eyes full of wonder and the beauty of life. If I think of all the times I looked around in the middle of my life in the horizontal world, in the midst of doing work I loved, I always feel enormously blessed. Doing the work we lovealways blesses us with the gifts we give. I can see the very thing we give is the gift that life mission returns to us.

It may be that the gift of a life mission is that it’s the closest we can get in this life to seeing the face of God. I see the face of the One every time I make a decision to listen to the call. When I see someone answer the call, I look up and I smile and I say thank you for the privilege of witnessing it. I feel that humanity has a chance, after all. I see a great deal of that. Maybe that is one of the greatest gifts of doing one’s life mission. I see such longing in people. I see such heart in people and the pain of wanting to do more. I hear such longing to make a difference in life.

It is good to see that in people. It is so easy to come to think people don’t care. It feels so good to experience someone willing to make great sacrifices to make the world a better place.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.76.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52374629Fri, 06 Jan 2023 23:34:15 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week fifty-one. This week David reflects in his expedition journal about the way that life mission brings out the goodness of life and the ability to make a real difference. Excerpt When I think about life mission and the basic goodness...
Excerpt

When I think about life mission and the basic goodness of people, I wonder how anyone could be doing their life mission and not be in a space of gratitude and kindness. Life mission brings out the goodness of life. Life mission keeps our eyes full of wonder and the beauty of life. If I think of all the times I looked around in the middle of my life in the horizontal world, in the midst of doing work I loved, I always feel enormously blessed. Doing the work we lovealways blesses us with the gifts we give. I can see the very thing we give is the gift that life mission returns to us.

It may be that the gift of a life mission is that it’s the closest we can get in this life to seeing the face of God. I see the face of the One every time I make a decision to listen to the call. When I see someone answer the call, I look up and I smile and I say thank you for the privilege of witnessing it. I feel that humanity has a chance, after all. I see a great deal of that. Maybe that is one of the greatest gifts of doing one’s life mission. I see such longing in people. I see such heart in people and the pain of wanting to do more. I hear such longing to make a difference in life.

It is good to see that in people. It is so easy to come to think people don’t care. It feels so good to experience someone willing to make great sacrifices to make the world a better place.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.76.]]>665clean151fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/our-life-mission-is-a-being-that-lives-in-both-worlds--52319962
Jun moved wood in the fire with his cane as he began again, his voice just loud enough to be heard. “Our work in Caravan assists our horizontal world selves in the work of embodying our life missions. Together with the One that sent us, we create a container for the work in the horizontal world. There is another kind of miracle that happens with this. Something is created that is a kind of life. We co-create the being of our life mission. Like our self, our life mission is a being that lives in both worlds and moves with us. Our relationship with this being is as ancient as our relationship with Caravan and the One that sent us.” He paused and looked at each of us. “Your work, at least here in Caravan, requires your conscious participation in this relationship. Your conscious relationship here will affect your horizontal-world life, even if you don’t consciously remember it there.”

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 11, Moving into the world, p.217-218.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52319962Sat, 31 Dec 2022 02:21:39 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week 50. This week Jun shares about the co-creative aspect of life mission. Jun moved wood in the fire with his cane as he began again, his voice just loud enough to be heard. “Our work in Caravan assists our horizontal world selves in...
Jun moved wood in the fire with his cane as he began again, his voice just loud enough to be heard. “Our work in Caravan assists our horizontal world selves in the work of embodying our life missions. Together with the One that sent us, we create a container for the work in the horizontal world. There is another kind of miracle that happens with this. Something is created that is a kind of life. We co-create the being of our life mission. Like our self, our life mission is a being that lives in both worlds and moves with us. Our relationship with this being is as ancient as our relationship with Caravan and the One that sent us.” He paused and looked at each of us. “Your work, at least here in Caravan, requires your conscious participation in this relationship. Your conscious relationship here will affect your horizontal-world life, even if you don’t consciously remember it there.”

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 11, Moving into the world, p.217-218.]]>589clean150fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/reflections-on-the-timeless-nature-of-caravan--52263412
Excerpt:

I saw Caravan moving through this universe outside of time, holding us, calling us to honor our agreement with the One that sent us. I felt the unending patience and grace of the work in Caravan. I felt the currents of collective mythic and cultural stories moving through the personal life missions of the hundred billion lives said to have lived in our world over its history. In a way that I have no words for, I felt my place in that stream, and a great peace moved through me.

We all go home together because there’s never been a separation between us. We’re all held in the arms of the One, the One who sent Caravan to bring us home. A million-million years is but a breath to the One who sent us and calls for our return.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6, Life Mission—Individual p.115.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52263412Fri, 23 Dec 2022 11:00:02 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty-nine. This week David reflects on the timeless nature of Caravan. Excerpt: I saw Caravan moving through this universe outside of time, holding us, calling us to honor our agreement with the One that sent us. I felt the unending...
Excerpt:

I saw Caravan moving through this universe outside of time, holding us, calling us to honor our agreement with the One that sent us. I felt the unending patience and grace of the work in Caravan. I felt the currents of collective mythic and cultural stories moving through the personal life missions of the hundred billion lives said to have lived in our world over its history. In a way that I have no words for, I felt my place in that stream, and a great peace moved through me.

We all go home together because there’s never been a separation between us. We’re all held in the arms of the One, the One who sent Caravan to bring us home. A million-million years is but a breath to the One who sent us and calls for our return.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6, Life Mission—Individual p.115.]]>829clean149fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/living-one-s-life-mission-is-a-process-not-the-end-product--52221126
Excerpt: We're told we travel for eternity and Caravan. We adjust as many times and as often as we need to. This leads me to believe that living my life mission is a process, not the end product.

Life mission is a journey and preparing the container for spirit. It's not so important that the big dream becomes a reality in this world, it's important that we're about the business of moving toward that vision or mission. If it's for what it'll change, transform and create than life mission’s goal is to be a vehicle, not a destination, quantum physics would say, the end is present, even in the beginning, calling us like a great attractor, it's the journey.

When we row to the other side of the river, we're meant to get out of the canoe and leave it on the riverbank. When I get to the end of this journey called my life mission, I'll need to leave the vehicle on the side of the road and move on. What's important is that I use the vehicle of my life mission to transform the container for spirit. When spirit comes, in the end, I'll be able to hold this knowing as I move on.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 11, Moving into the world, p.75-76.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52221126Sun, 18 Dec 2022 22:18:18 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty-eight. This week, David reflects that living one’s life mission is a process, not the end product. Excerpt: We're told we travel for eternity and Caravan. We adjust as many times and as often as we need to. This leads me to...
Excerpt: We're told we travel for eternity and Caravan. We adjust as many times and as often as we need to. This leads me to believe that living my life mission is a process, not the end product.

Life mission is a journey and preparing the container for spirit. It's not so important that the big dream becomes a reality in this world, it's important that we're about the business of moving toward that vision or mission. If it's for what it'll change, transform and create than life mission’s goal is to be a vehicle, not a destination, quantum physics would say, the end is present, even in the beginning, calling us like a great attractor, it's the journey.

When we row to the other side of the river, we're meant to get out of the canoe and leave it on the riverbank. When I get to the end of this journey called my life mission, I'll need to leave the vehicle on the side of the road and move on. What's important is that I use the vehicle of my life mission to transform the container for spirit. When spirit comes, in the end, I'll be able to hold this knowing as I move on.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 11, Moving into the world, p.75-76.]]>731clean148fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/life-mission-company-of-players--52220026
Excerpt: I reflected again on Viola’s wish in Shakespeare in Love to spend her whole life dreaming if she could do it in the company of players. She meant fellow actors. When I set out to do design and illustration, these incredible beings were my company of players, and I had come to love them. Now, I was being called to a new company of players. I thought each domain or life mission field must have its own stage, its own theater. Just as I had become aware of my company of players in Caravan, and Anna was to be first in my new horizontal world company, each of us in the horizontal world needed to find our place and our company of players.

How do we move our part of the play, our work, out into the world? Every one of us has that question. My question now was how to move my life mission into the horizontal world. With help from my teachers in Caravan, I began to have an inkling of how it could come into form. There was also the question of how to translate the work itself to this world of more than six billion stages.

As I watched the design team showing up over the morning and the assignments being delegated, I thought about the creativity needed to bring something into manifestation and completion. Bringing the work of Caravan to the horizontal world called for these same skills I had honed as fine artist, musician, graphic artist/designer, and even scientist. I had a sense of all the pieces of my life fitting together to support the embodiment of my life mission. Watching the meetings and early sketches beginning to surface, I began to see the horizontal world work of Caravan emerging.

These people had been my family for one life mission, and now I would find the new family for the rest of my life mission. Creativity and surrender would lead me to these people and opportunities, along with synchronicity, serendipity, intention, and will. All of these had been foundation for the process before, and now I would use these same pieces to embody Caravan’s work. Colleagues and associates would come of the orbit of our common love and intention, I thought. I hoped. It was
time to find my company of players, who played for the love of the game, and would choose a lifetime of dreaming the dream of their hearts.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 11, Moving into the world, p.217-218.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52220026Sun, 18 Dec 2022 20:29:32 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty-seven. This week, David reflects on the coming together of a new company of players for his life in the horizontal world. Excerpt: I reflected again on Viola’s wish in Shakespeare in Love to spend her whole life dreaming if she...
Excerpt: I reflected again on Viola’s wish in Shakespeare in Love to spend her whole life dreaming if she could do it in the company of players. She meant fellow actors. When I set out to do design and illustration, these incredible beings were my company of players, and I had come to love them. Now, I was being called to a new company of players. I thought each domain or life mission field must have its own stage, its own theater. Just as I had become aware of my company of players in Caravan, and Anna was to be first in my new horizontal world company, each of us in the horizontal world needed to find our place and our company of players.

How do we move our part of the play, our work, out into the world? Every one of us has that question. My question now was how to move my life mission into the horizontal world. With help from my teachers in Caravan, I began to have an inkling of how it could come into form. There was also the question of how to translate the work itself to this world of more than six billion stages.

As I watched the design team showing up over the morning and the assignments being delegated, I thought about the creativity needed to bring something into manifestation and completion. Bringing the work of Caravan to the horizontal world called for these same skills I had honed as fine artist, musician, graphic artist/designer, and even scientist. I had a sense of all the pieces of my life fitting together to support the embodiment of my life mission. Watching the meetings and early sketches beginning to surface, I began to see the horizontal world work of Caravan emerging.

These people had been my family for one life mission, and now I would find the new family for the rest of my life mission. Creativity and surrender would lead me to these people and opportunities, along with synchronicity, serendipity, intention, and will. All of these had been foundation for the process before, and now I would use these same pieces to embody Caravan’s work. Colleagues and associates would come of the orbit of our common love and intention, I thought. I hoped. It was
time to find my company of players, who played for the love of the game, and would choose a lifetime of dreaming the dream of their hearts.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 11, Moving into the world, p.217-218.]]>719clean147fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/telling-your-higher-story--52074685
Excerpt:

We stopped next to a campfire and listened as an elegant man completed a story. The pilgrims of Caravan appeared to have returned to dressing in more or less modern attire.

The work with life mission moving through time seemed to be complete for the moment. As the man finished speaking, I realized it was his story. His was a story of a life between two worlds. He asked what it meant to be of these two worlds in the horizontal world. I wondered if remembering being part of the horizontal world and Caravan helped him. As he finished, others sitting around this campfire said nothing. The woman in the earth robe standing by the campfire next to him put her hand on his shoulder and said, “Tell us again. Find the highest thread of calling in your story.”

Everyone in the circle leaned in. I could feel their presence to his story. What were they listening for? He started over, taking more time, weighing his words. He seemed to listen and watch for their response. As he told his story again, I remembered something James Hillman wrote. “It is not so much the damaging things that happened to us, as the damaging way we tell ourselves the story of what happened.” I wondered if this man would now tell his story differently.
His story of the journey between the traditional and the modern, African and European, ancestral home and city, community and isolation, secular and sacred life interested me, and stayed with me as Verity signaled to move on.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 3, Life Mission, Spiritual Agreement, p.99-100.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52074685Fri, 02 Dec 2022 11:00:02 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty-six. This week, David listens to someone sharing around a campfire and reflects on the process of telling a higher story. Excerpt: We stopped next to a campfire and listened as an elegant man completed a story. The...
Excerpt:

We stopped next to a campfire and listened as an elegant man completed a story. The pilgrims of Caravan appeared to have returned to dressing in more or less modern attire.

The work with life mission moving through time seemed to be complete for the moment. As the man finished speaking, I realized it was his story. His was a story of a life between two worlds. He asked what it meant to be of these two worlds in the horizontal world. I wondered if remembering being part of the horizontal world and Caravan helped him. As he finished, others sitting around this campfire said nothing. The woman in the earth robe standing by the campfire next to him put her hand on his shoulder and said, “Tell us again. Find the highest thread of calling in your story.”

Everyone in the circle leaned in. I could feel their presence to his story. What were they listening for? He started over, taking more time, weighing his words. He seemed to listen and watch for their response. As he told his story again, I remembered something James Hillman wrote. “It is not so much the damaging things that happened to us, as the damaging way we tell ourselves the story of what happened.” I wondered if this man would now tell his story differently.
His story of the journey between the traditional and the modern, African and European, ancestral home and city, community and isolation, secular and sacred life interested me, and stayed with me as Verity signaled to move on.

The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 3, Life Mission, Spiritual Agreement, p.99-100.]]>553clean146fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/each-moment-is-an-opportunity-for-the-one-to-touch-your-world--52013586Excerpt:
Jun stopped in front of me. He looked for a moment at Verity, still sitting next to me, then looked directly into my eyes. “When you return to the horizontal world,” he said, “remember that your life mission is a sacred trust and spiritual practice. Your work this twilight morning in Caravan and for eternity is always this. Remember as you work with your campfire. Remember as you move through your days in the horizontal world. Each moment is the opportunity to embody your greatness. Each moment is a container of Divine intent, an opportunity for the One to touch your world, to breathe eternity into a moment.”
I looked into Jun’s eyes as he spoke. Then he went silent, and I returned to the deep inner listening. I could hear Verity calling in my head and heart. “Go deeper . . . include everything . . .”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 3, Life Mission, Spiritual Agreement, p.62-63.]]>6988980e-6a41-4885-9cba-371c77b9d557Fri, 25 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty-five. This week, Jun invites David to remember the sacred trust of life mission, and that each moment is an opportunity to embody our greatness. Excerpt: Jun stopped in front of me. He looked for a moment at Verity, still sitting...Excerpt:
Jun stopped in front of me. He looked for a moment at Verity, still sitting next to me, then looked directly into my eyes. “When you return to the horizontal world,” he said, “remember that your life mission is a sacred trust and spiritual practice. Your work this twilight morning in Caravan and for eternity is always this. Remember as you work with your campfire. Remember as you move through your days in the horizontal world. Each moment is the opportunity to embody your greatness. Each moment is a container of Divine intent, an opportunity for the One to touch your world, to breathe eternity into a moment.”
I looked into Jun’s eyes as he spoke. Then he went silent, and I returned to the deep inner listening. I could hear Verity calling in my head and heart. “Go deeper . . . include everything . . .”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 3, Life Mission, Spiritual Agreement, p.62-63.]]>564clean145fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/life-mission-will-call-you-to-make-the-tough-choices--52013597Excerpt:
“Your work is to transform within,” he said, “to prepare the container for the Beloved. The days when you bring yourself back are the days when you face your fears and doubts and the depths of your shadow. Everything that keeps you from your brilliance will be there in front of you. Every time you bring yourself back to your agreement with the One, that is the moment when something really happens.”
Jun leaned back on his heels. “The horizontal world beckons, shiny possibilities calling simultaneously from every direction. Life mission is a narrowing. Life mission will call you to make the tough choices. It will always test you. It will make you choose, and it will ask this every single day. The deciding factor in whether or not you will manifest your life mission is your ability to choose every day. A life mission is never decided by a single decision. Even the big, seemingly crucial, decisions are based on the thousand small decisions that lead up to it.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 3, Life Mission, Spiritual Agreement, p.61]]>86bbe70c-836f-49ed-86f8-807015a57cdbFri, 18 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty four. The week, Jun invites us to reflect on those moments when we choose to bring ourselves back from the shadows and fears, and how this transforms us. Excerpt: “Your work is to transform within,” he said, “to prepare the...Excerpt:
“Your work is to transform within,” he said, “to prepare the container for the Beloved. The days when you bring yourself back are the days when you face your fears and doubts and the depths of your shadow. Everything that keeps you from your brilliance will be there in front of you. Every time you bring yourself back to your agreement with the One, that is the moment when something really happens.”
Jun leaned back on his heels. “The horizontal world beckons, shiny possibilities calling simultaneously from every direction. Life mission is a narrowing. Life mission will call you to make the tough choices. It will always test you. It will make you choose, and it will ask this every single day. The deciding factor in whether or not you will manifest your life mission is your ability to choose every day. A life mission is never decided by a single decision. Even the big, seemingly crucial, decisions are based on the thousand small decisions that lead up to it.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 3, Life Mission, Spiritual Agreement, p.61]]>879clean144fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/reflections-on-vision-mission-and-purpose--52013554Excerpt:
Perhaps vision is a kind of revelation about what we’re assigned to do that we combine with the reality of our life. This will involve the missions of others. It would include our personal uniqueness, the uniqueness of the time and the environment we’re born to, and the involvement of untold numbers of people around the world.
This morning, I think mission is personal, a task or assignment I’m designed for and sent here with, my destiny. Like a snowflake, it’s unique, singular, and one of a kind. Vision will include the combining of my unique mission with the missions of others in the world to create the plan to accomplish this vision we share. Purpose will be a choice of who I am and intend to be so that I can accomplish the mission.
Mission, vision, and purpose were coming together for me. I liked the synergy between them and the way they might weave together to form a complete life.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 2, Life Mission, Vision, and Purpose: Assignments and Agreements, p.39]]>dff3b8e0-7b15-4fd8-990c-5ef16e227ceeFri, 11 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty-three. The week, David reflects on his investigation into vision, mission and purpose. Excerpt: Perhaps vision is a kind of revelation about what we’re assigned to do that we combine with the reality of our life. This will...Excerpt:
Perhaps vision is a kind of revelation about what we’re assigned to do that we combine with the reality of our life. This will involve the missions of others. It would include our personal uniqueness, the uniqueness of the time and the environment we’re born to, and the involvement of untold numbers of people around the world.
This morning, I think mission is personal, a task or assignment I’m designed for and sent here with, my destiny. Like a snowflake, it’s unique, singular, and one of a kind. Vision will include the combining of my unique mission with the missions of others in the world to create the plan to accomplish this vision we share. Purpose will be a choice of who I am and intend to be so that I can accomplish the mission.
Mission, vision, and purpose were coming together for me. I liked the synergy between them and the way they might weave together to form a complete life.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 2, Life Mission, Vision, and Purpose: Assignments and Agreements, p.39]]>884clean143fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-larger-myth-have-we-agreed-to-take-our-place-in--52013593Excerpt:
As I drove toward the used bookstore section of downtown Chicago, I thought about the myths of the world I knew. I thought about classic myths of Greek gods and goddesses. Inwardly, on the screen of my imagination, I reviewed Arthurian legends and the myth of the Wild West that were so much a part of my childhood. I returned to the aspect of myth I encountered in the first round of Joseph Campbell’s books. I thought about the myth of America, the myth of Africa and of the Orient, as we know them in the Western world.
Jun wanted us to look at both the myth of the culture we were born into and our personal myth, which seemed closer and dearer to me after my time in Caravan. Perhaps it was the constant reminder that this pilgrimage in the horizontal world is only one of the places I live. My time in Caravan was placing everything in the realm of a myth I live. I concluded that taking responsibility for our agreement with the One that sent us is another way of defining the myth we agreed to embody. Jun asked us to consider what larger myth we agreed to take a place in. When sent to the horizontal world to embody a mission, is this then the embodiment of archetype and myth?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6, Life Mission - Individual, p.111]]>9f003148-858f-4016-8b98-ae05370783e8Fri, 04 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty-two. The week, David reflects on myth, the myths he has known in the world in the context of the larger myth he has agreed to take his place in. Excerpt: As I drove toward the used bookstore section of downtown Chicago, I thought...Excerpt:
As I drove toward the used bookstore section of downtown Chicago, I thought about the myths of the world I knew. I thought about classic myths of Greek gods and goddesses. Inwardly, on the screen of my imagination, I reviewed Arthurian legends and the myth of the Wild West that were so much a part of my childhood. I returned to the aspect of myth I encountered in the first round of Joseph Campbell’s books. I thought about the myth of America, the myth of Africa and of the Orient, as we know them in the Western world.
Jun wanted us to look at both the myth of the culture we were born into and our personal myth, which seemed closer and dearer to me after my time in Caravan. Perhaps it was the constant reminder that this pilgrimage in the horizontal world is only one of the places I live. My time in Caravan was placing everything in the realm of a myth I live. I concluded that taking responsibility for our agreement with the One that sent us is another way of defining the myth we agreed to embody. Jun asked us to consider what larger myth we agreed to take a place in. When sent to the horizontal world to embody a mission, is this then the embodiment of archetype and myth?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6, Life Mission - Individual, p.111]]>719clean142fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/creativity-can-help-us-not-be-the-sum-of-our-past--52013596Excerpt:
Still as Pir Vilayat wrote, “If life is creative, then we are not simply the effect of our past.” We’re capable of creating a life mission from the song of our soul that is not the sum of our wounds, even if our life mission is a solution to a wound.I want to do this ashes work. I want to honor the gift in the underworld and its place. I want to remember I’m not the sum total of my past. Without attempting to deny a part of me, I want to remember the whole. Creativity honors and is present in life and gives us a new choice. Creativity says the result is not always preordained, that something new, unforeseen, and unrelated to the past can emerge.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.77-78]]>88c5d712-1372-4215-9488-b412dad4963aFri, 28 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty-one. This week, David reflects on the ways creativity can help us not be the sum of our past, so we can make new choices and allow a new future to emerge. Excerpt: Still as Pir Vilayat wrote, “If life is creative, then we are not...Excerpt:
Still as Pir Vilayat wrote, “If life is creative, then we are not simply the effect of our past.” We’re capable of creating a life mission from the song of our soul that is not the sum of our wounds, even if our life mission is a solution to a wound.I want to do this ashes work. I want to honor the gift in the underworld and its place. I want to remember I’m not the sum total of my past. Without attempting to deny a part of me, I want to remember the whole. Creativity honors and is present in life and gives us a new choice. Creativity says the result is not always preordained, that something new, unforeseen, and unrelated to the past can emerge.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.77-78]]>622clean141fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/connect-to-the-possibility-of-remembering-as-a-lucid-witness-your-yes--52013595Excerpt:
Verity touched Anni and me on the arm. She looked into our eyes, and something met in the space between us. Something in my forehead reached out to meet something from hers . . . and something began. Verity turned and began walking. Anni and I joined her, walking a pace or two behind, a triangle moving through waves of Caravan’s pilgrims.
I remained aware of walking within Caravan’s world and simultaneously moving into the streams within streams of possible horizontal world lives. I was aware of the impression of possible lives and consciously calling possible lives in the horizontal world. Quickly this time, I moved to a place of lucid witness, calling, creating the streams I could move in. From this vertical place outside I remembered Kairos tuning and weaving as we walked the timeless dunes of Caravan. I remember weaving, calling, sorting, finding and agreeing to possibilities in the horizontal world with the pilgrims of Caravan.
In that moment everything came together. It came together in the remembering, in the vision in my heart, in every level of my being. I became lucid. I remembered everything. I remembered choosing thisdream and agreeing.
I saw the “ten thousand things,” code for choices without number. I felt the clues from the campfires moving in and through the eddies, moving now toward a choice. I felt the pieces, the threads of the weave, and their hints of possibility. Art, science, spirit, and life mission wove themselves together with all the other passions of my life. I felt the draw toward renaissance and living in the horizontal world integrating all the possible pursuits and interests of my soul. I felt the threads coming together.
Everything I dreamed of, each and every facet of my nature, each interest, fascination, and motivation was an important and necessary thread in this weave. Each of them pointed to this moment, and wove a vision, spinning at light speed toward this eternal now.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.205]]>27808a87-91b2-4cf0-86a0-9d015b298d1bFri, 21 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week forty. This week, David experiences himself as a lucid witness to his life in the horizontal world and agreeing. Excerpt: Verity touched Anni and me on the arm. She looked into our eyes, and something met in the space between us....Excerpt:
Verity touched Anni and me on the arm. She looked into our eyes, and something met in the space between us. Something in my forehead reached out to meet something from hers . . . and something began. Verity turned and began walking. Anni and I joined her, walking a pace or two behind, a triangle moving through waves of Caravan’s pilgrims.
I remained aware of walking within Caravan’s world and simultaneously moving into the streams within streams of possible horizontal world lives. I was aware of the impression of possible lives and consciously calling possible lives in the horizontal world. Quickly this time, I moved to a place of lucid witness, calling, creating the streams I could move in. From this vertical place outside I remembered Kairos tuning and weaving as we walked the timeless dunes of Caravan. I remember weaving, calling, sorting, finding and agreeing to possibilities in the horizontal world with the pilgrims of Caravan.
In that moment everything came together. It came together in the remembering, in the vision in my heart, in every level of my being. I became lucid. I remembered everything. I remembered choosing thisdream and agreeing.
I saw the “ten thousand things,” code for choices without number. I felt the clues from the campfires moving in and through the eddies, moving now toward a choice. I felt the pieces, the threads of the weave, and their hints of possibility. Art, science, spirit, and life mission wove themselves together with all the other passions of my life. I felt the draw toward renaissance and living in the horizontal world integrating all the possible pursuits and interests of my soul. I felt the threads coming together.
Everything I dreamed of, each and every facet of my nature, each interest, fascination, and motivation was an important and necessary thread in this weave. Each of them pointed to this moment, and wove a vision, spinning at light speed toward this eternal now.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.205]]>720clean140fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/do-you-know-when-your-inner-beings-are-on-the-move--52013567Excerpt:
I had something real to do, and though some part of me wanted to rebel, that something was always there. Real to me outside that emergency room and with Kairos, that something the heart of hearts knows and calls to, that transcends who I think I am, what I think I know and especially what I fear. Longing and a sense of calling had tugged at me, and because I could never definitively describe to myself what that meant, I had applied myself to the goal of never doing a job I hated. I hadn’t known what I would do, but I’d promised myself that what I did would always be creative and that I wouldn’t sell my freedom. Art and music seemed to fit, and something more called. Talking to Kairos now, several years later, as a student in Caravan, what had been important after my visit to the emergency room was still important to me.
Then, without glancing back, Kairos asked me, “Do you know when your inner beings are on the move? Who is it that rebels when you are inspired and say yes to something? When you commit and believe, do you watch for the part of you that says no? In the horizontal world, there is a force within you that tests you to be sure you mean it. There is another force within that tests if it can stop you. One of these forces wants you to push past its resistance. The other only wants to stop you. It is important to notice where and when these two forces show themselves in your life.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.71.]]>bc0355b3-e1c0-4039-8821-b9f459638388Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty-nine. This week, David reflects on how resistance shows up in his life when he is moving in the direction of his life's mission. Excerpt: I had something real to do, and though some part of me wanted to rebel, that something was...Excerpt:
I had something real to do, and though some part of me wanted to rebel, that something was always there. Real to me outside that emergency room and with Kairos, that something the heart of hearts knows and calls to, that transcends who I think I am, what I think I know and especially what I fear. Longing and a sense of calling had tugged at me, and because I could never definitively describe to myself what that meant, I had applied myself to the goal of never doing a job I hated. I hadn’t known what I would do, but I’d promised myself that what I did would always be creative and that I wouldn’t sell my freedom. Art and music seemed to fit, and something more called. Talking to Kairos now, several years later, as a student in Caravan, what had been important after my visit to the emergency room was still important to me.
Then, without glancing back, Kairos asked me, “Do you know when your inner beings are on the move? Who is it that rebels when you are inspired and say yes to something? When you commit and believe, do you watch for the part of you that says no? In the horizontal world, there is a force within you that tests you to be sure you mean it. There is another force within that tests if it can stop you. One of these forces wants you to push past its resistance. The other only wants to stop you. It is important to notice where and when these two forces show themselves in your life.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.71.]]>809clean139fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-life-mission-is-never-decided-by-a-single-decision--52013552Excerpt:
Jun leaned back on his heels. “The horizontal world beckons, shiny possibilities calling simultaneously from every direction. Life mission is a narrowing. Life mission will call you to make the tough choices. Itwill always test you. It will make you choose, and it will ask this every single day. The deciding factor in whether or not you will manifest your life mission is your ability to choose every day. A life mission is never decided by a single decision. Even the big, seemingly crucial, decisions are based on the thousand small decisions that lead up to it.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 3,Life Mission, Spiritual Agreement, p.61.]]>b8027558-fb9d-40c3-85fa-ec28604e2f39Fri, 07 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty-eight. This week, Jun invites Caravan explorers to reflect on the choices, large and small, that our life mission asks us to make each day. Excerpt: Jun leaned back on his heels. “The horizontal world beckons, shiny...Excerpt:
Jun leaned back on his heels. “The horizontal world beckons, shiny possibilities calling simultaneously from every direction. Life mission is a narrowing. Life mission will call you to make the tough choices. Itwill always test you. It will make you choose, and it will ask this every single day. The deciding factor in whether or not you will manifest your life mission is your ability to choose every day. A life mission is never decided by a single decision. Even the big, seemingly crucial, decisions are based on the thousand small decisions that lead up to it.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 3,Life Mission, Spiritual Agreement, p.61.]]>774clean138fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-bodhicitta-vow-and-life-mission--52013583Excerpt:
“Do you remember the Bodhicitta vow?” Savitri answered. “Boddi has to do with primordial essence, and chitta has to do with the heart. The Bodhicitta vow is coming from the primordial essence of the heart with compassion for all sentient beings. This is a fitting vow for life mission work. It isn’t a requirement to be on the path of your life mission, and it would certainly be in harmony with it. I can’t imagine any life mission that wouldn’t resonate with that.”
It was as if everyone in the circle were asking himself or herself if they’d made that prayer. Silent and searching inward, no one moved. In a whisper, Savitri asked, “What if you made that vow, received the answer to that prayer, found yourself in a life in which you actually could make a difference . . ."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 8, Life mission across culture and over time, p.88-89.]]>12740d14-8ab0-4a00-b478-7a7eabdca81dFri, 30 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty-seven. This week, Savitri invites people sitting around the campfire to reflect on the Bodhicitta vow and its’ relationship to life mission. Excerpt: “Do you remember the Bodhicitta vow?” Savitri answered. “Boddi has to do with...Excerpt:
“Do you remember the Bodhicitta vow?” Savitri answered. “Boddi has to do with primordial essence, and chitta has to do with the heart. The Bodhicitta vow is coming from the primordial essence of the heart with compassion for all sentient beings. This is a fitting vow for life mission work. It isn’t a requirement to be on the path of your life mission, and it would certainly be in harmony with it. I can’t imagine any life mission that wouldn’t resonate with that.”
It was as if everyone in the circle were asking himself or herself if they’d made that prayer. Silent and searching inward, no one moved. In a whisper, Savitri asked, “What if you made that vow, received the answer to that prayer, found yourself in a life in which you actually could make a difference . . ."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 8, Life mission across culture and over time, p.88-89.]]>625clean137fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/getting-tuned-up-for-our-place-in-the-plan-of-the-universe--52013594Excerpt:
Here in Caravan, I ask, is there a life that makes sense to live that does not include the reason we were sent? Can you conceive of choosing anything but your life mission?”
The man replied, “Depth psychologist James Hillman addressed  this question in his book The Soul’s Code. He referred to what he called  the acorn principle. I think he is saying the code of our life mission is  within us, and like the mighty oak tree is waiting to unfold over time in  the course of our life. He wrote that it is inherent in us from birth, like  the acorn, and isn’t created by our life in the horizontal world.”
***
Hazrat Inayat Khan also writes that everyone has a place in the orchestra of life. Each of us is an instrument in this orchestra. Finding our place has to do with getting tuned up for our place in the performance of the piece. According to Hazrat Inayat Kahn, all things, even electrons, have their very specific, unique place in the scheme of things. Not only does each and every human being have their place in the Divine plan, with a mission that is unique to each, every electron also has a uniquely designed place in the plan of the universe.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 8, Life mission across culture and over time, p.94, 97-98.]]>2780b179-4e0c-41a7-bd7e-836ff910740eFri, 23 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty-six. This week, David explores two aspects of life mission - life mission coded within us like an acorn and we are part of a larger whole, like an instrument in the orchestra of life. Excerpt: Here in Caravan, I ask, is there a...Excerpt:
Here in Caravan, I ask, is there a life that makes sense to live that does not include the reason we were sent? Can you conceive of choosing anything but your life mission?”
The man replied, “Depth psychologist James Hillman addressed  this question in his book The Soul’s Code. He referred to what he called  the acorn principle. I think he is saying the code of our life mission is  within us, and like the mighty oak tree is waiting to unfold over time in  the course of our life. He wrote that it is inherent in us from birth, like  the acorn, and isn’t created by our life in the horizontal world.”
***
Hazrat Inayat Khan also writes that everyone has a place in the orchestra of life. Each of us is an instrument in this orchestra. Finding our place has to do with getting tuned up for our place in the performance of the piece. According to Hazrat Inayat Kahn, all things, even electrons, have their very specific, unique place in the scheme of things. Not only does each and every human being have their place in the Divine plan, with a mission that is unique to each, every electron also has a uniquely designed place in the plan of the universe.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 8, Life mission across culture and over time, p.94, 97-98.]]>826clean136fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-role-does-meaning-have-in-your-life--52013592Excerpt:
Verity turned to me. “You want to know what this means,” she said. “While what something means often is everything, it does not always serve to know immediately. As we walk, allow these questions to sit in your heart for now. Allow the question of meaning itself to move with you.”
I thought that meaning and decisions could always be found together. We decide based on meaning. Sometimes something outside tells us what something means. Sometimes it’s the meaning we give that decides. Either way, meaning comes first. Then I thought we decide based on both meaning from our past experience and our best ability in the moment to respond to the meaning we find. I remembered times when I responded to the meaning my heart gave something, and other times when I responded to the meaning my fear or shadow gave.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 8, Remembering your own life mission, p.141
 If 'meaning' were a character in the story of your life, a character traveling with you for your while life, what part would this character would play?]]>4b56d2f0-fa53-41c9-8386-0ff9197c9120Sun, 18 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty-five. This week, Verity invites David to reflect on the role of 'meaning' in his life. Excerpt: Verity turned to me. “You want to know what this means,” she said. “While what something means often is everything, it does not...Excerpt:
Verity turned to me. “You want to know what this means,” she said. “While what something means often is everything, it does not always serve to know immediately. As we walk, allow these questions to sit in your heart for now. Allow the question of meaning itself to move with you.”
I thought that meaning and decisions could always be found together. We decide based on meaning. Sometimes something outside tells us what something means. Sometimes it’s the meaning we give that decides. Either way, meaning comes first. Then I thought we decide based on both meaning from our past experience and our best ability in the moment to respond to the meaning we find. I remembered times when I responded to the meaning my heart gave something, and other times when I responded to the meaning my fear or shadow gave.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 8, Remembering your own life mission, p.141
 If 'meaning' were a character in the story of your life, a character traveling with you for your while life, what part would this character would play?]]>611clean135fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-do-we-know-now-about-our-life-s-mission--52013590Excerpt:
“What do we know now?” she asked. “Here and in the horizontal world? Where are we now in our calling? These questions are always with us. They are why we return to Caravan to remember. As you begin your pilgrimage, consider how you would like it to end. It is a bit like asking how you want your life to go, what you want your life to be about. This returns us to the question: Why are we here? We begin this pilgrimage to our purpose, mission, and vision, to our agreement with the One.
“It is a journey,” she put her hand over her heart, “with stops along the way. It is a journey that will not have an ending you can point to. You may consider death to be an ending, though in our story this would not be true. It is more helpful to look at death as the completion of a segment in the larger pilgrimage of life.
“This much we do know.” She traced the lining of her coat, lifting the edge, looking inside, and continued. “When we ask what was packed for your journey, we learn that your provisions were arranged before you began. Everything needed for this journey was sent with you. What you can do is take a moment to look at what you were sent with.
In the abundance of gifts packed for you, nothing was wasted. In nature, everything is used and nothing is without purpose. Everything you have in the way of a gift is meant for something you agreed to do during the journey. You were given something for every intention for your life.”
She paused and looked around the circle at us. “What blessings did you bring? You came bearing gifts. We all did. Do you remember? Maybe you hope you came with something to give, and have lost or misplaced it. You may never have believed this. Maybe you have an idea you knew when you were young, and then you forgot what it was.” Her voice became softer. “Maybe it is time to remember.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.198-199]]>adfb1cd6-9d95-4ae1-adb3-11e3379af00dSun, 11 Sep 2022 16:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty-four. This week, Savitri invites those sitting around a campfire to reflect on the journey they embarked on in Caravan and what was packed in their bags. We are invited to reflect on our journey so far in this email course and...Excerpt:
“What do we know now?” she asked. “Here and in the horizontal world? Where are we now in our calling? These questions are always with us. They are why we return to Caravan to remember. As you begin your pilgrimage, consider how you would like it to end. It is a bit like asking how you want your life to go, what you want your life to be about. This returns us to the question: Why are we here? We begin this pilgrimage to our purpose, mission, and vision, to our agreement with the One.
“It is a journey,” she put her hand over her heart, “with stops along the way. It is a journey that will not have an ending you can point to. You may consider death to be an ending, though in our story this would not be true. It is more helpful to look at death as the completion of a segment in the larger pilgrimage of life.
“This much we do know.” She traced the lining of her coat, lifting the edge, looking inside, and continued. “When we ask what was packed for your journey, we learn that your provisions were arranged before you began. Everything needed for this journey was sent with you. What you can do is take a moment to look at what you were sent with.
In the abundance of gifts packed for you, nothing was wasted. In nature, everything is used and nothing is without purpose. Everything you have in the way of a gift is meant for something you agreed to do during the journey. You were given something for every intention for your life.”
She paused and looked around the circle at us. “What blessings did you bring? You came bearing gifts. We all did. Do you remember? Maybe you hope you came with something to give, and have lost or misplaced it. You may never have believed this. Maybe you have an idea you knew when you were young, and then you forgot what it was.” Her voice became softer. “Maybe it is time to remember.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.198-199]]>903clean134fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/is-your-life-orchestrated-to-help-you-see-something--52013587Excerpt:
Verity’s questions have me spinning a bit. Her questions about the horizontal world are a bit unsettling. I expect to be questioned in Caravan. The events in Caravan have layers of meaning and call me to interpret them symbolically, metaphorically, and archetypically. I’m not used to thinking of my horizontal world life as though it was orchestrated to help me see something. That I would imagine it to be different seems to demonstrate how asleep in it I am most of the time. Yes, it is another pilgrimage. Perhaps the other end of a pole created with great love by the One.
Since Verity asked me to be aware of what I love, it was a cleansing rain to my heart to realize or remember that I do in fact love. I love beauty wherever I find it. I love the visual and performing arts, or at least most of them. I loved learning as I was growing up and still do. I love discovering, creating, and making connections. I’m happy to learn I love the horizontal world after all, and its people most of the time. I love things made with craft, with loving care and a sense of soul. What does this mean to me now?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 9, Creating Possibilities, p.167]]>f9db9802-62e6-40f2-bd37-271d1007716eSun, 04 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty-three. This week, Davide reflects in his expedition journey on the layers of meaning brought to his attention at Caravan, and the question of what he loves. Excerpt: Verity’s questions have me spinning a bit. Her questions about...Excerpt:
Verity’s questions have me spinning a bit. Her questions about the horizontal world are a bit unsettling. I expect to be questioned in Caravan. The events in Caravan have layers of meaning and call me to interpret them symbolically, metaphorically, and archetypically. I’m not used to thinking of my horizontal world life as though it was orchestrated to help me see something. That I would imagine it to be different seems to demonstrate how asleep in it I am most of the time. Yes, it is another pilgrimage. Perhaps the other end of a pole created with great love by the One.
Since Verity asked me to be aware of what I love, it was a cleansing rain to my heart to realize or remember that I do in fact love. I love beauty wherever I find it. I love the visual and performing arts, or at least most of them. I loved learning as I was growing up and still do. I love discovering, creating, and making connections. I’m happy to learn I love the horizontal world after all, and its people most of the time. I love things made with craft, with loving care and a sense of soul. What does this mean to me now?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 9, Creating Possibilities, p.167]]>755clean133fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/include-everything-in-your-life-mission-exploration--52013579Excerpt:
Verity looked back toward Caravan. “Come, come again,” she said, then she turned to look directly at me. “You have put yourself in quite a state, have you not? You are on the right track and asking good questions. You can relax a little. It is serious, and there is room for humor and perhaps even joy.
“You were right to notice that you could design a beautiful life, a caring and giving life even, and still not embody your reason for being in the horizontal world. Yes, the ten thousand things. It is also helpful to begin with that. You know from your campfire work here, your fascinations, motivations, passions, and interests are not an accident. Even your compensatory self, shadow, and ego attractions have a connection to your unique self. What you are drawn to create will have both sides of your nature. It will reflect your nature. As long as you do not limit your inquiry to this darker side, you can use it. It will have useful information if you treat it lightly and with respect.
"You have many selves with intentions for your legacy. Allow them to have their voices without identifying with their stories. They are not who you are. There will be something important there for you."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.198-199]]>02e78acb-c02f-4a17-9b65-93171208454aSun, 28 Aug 2022 21:48:53 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty-two. This week, Verity encourages David to include everything in his life mission exploration - interests, passions and even the things that seem like the 'ten thousand things' instead of the One thing. It all has useful...Excerpt:
Verity looked back toward Caravan. “Come, come again,” she said, then she turned to look directly at me. “You have put yourself in quite a state, have you not? You are on the right track and asking good questions. You can relax a little. It is serious, and there is room for humor and perhaps even joy.
“You were right to notice that you could design a beautiful life, a caring and giving life even, and still not embody your reason for being in the horizontal world. Yes, the ten thousand things. It is also helpful to begin with that. You know from your campfire work here, your fascinations, motivations, passions, and interests are not an accident. Even your compensatory self, shadow, and ego attractions have a connection to your unique self. What you are drawn to create will have both sides of your nature. It will reflect your nature. As long as you do not limit your inquiry to this darker side, you can use it. It will have useful information if you treat it lightly and with respect.
"You have many selves with intentions for your legacy. Allow them to have their voices without identifying with their stories. They are not who you are. There will be something important there for you."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.198-199]]>911clean132fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-would-it-like-to-sent-on-a-mission-to-do-the-one-thing--52013563Excerpt:
“The Lord works in mysterious ways.” If I remember in each moment my reason for being here, then the legacy will belong to the One that sent me.
Rumi said, “It is as if a king sent you to a foreign land, and you did a thousand things, but not the one thing you were sent to do.”I’ve been sent on a mission and I feel I’ve done the thousand things. What is the one thing I was sent to do? In the moment of my death, though I love that I have done so many of the things that were in my heart and will have few regrets over untried things, will I regret that I did not remember the One thing? Yes, I remember enough now to know that will be the one thing I care about.
If I’m to be unafraid in the moment of my death, I will be answering to my king and queen, “Yes, I have done the thing you sent me to do. I was part of the something great, the story I was sent to embody, the adventure I was sent to take part in and the legacy of the One who sent me."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.198]]>cc02f967-39c5-4082-8368-dd6d4551a4e5Sun, 21 Aug 2022 23:37:32 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty-one. This week, David imagines what it would be like to be sent on a mission by his king and queen to do the 'One' thing Excerpt: “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” If I remember in each moment my reason for being here, then...Excerpt:
“The Lord works in mysterious ways.” If I remember in each moment my reason for being here, then the legacy will belong to the One that sent me.
Rumi said, “It is as if a king sent you to a foreign land, and you did a thousand things, but not the one thing you were sent to do.”I’ve been sent on a mission and I feel I’ve done the thousand things. What is the one thing I was sent to do? In the moment of my death, though I love that I have done so many of the things that were in my heart and will have few regrets over untried things, will I regret that I did not remember the One thing? Yes, I remember enough now to know that will be the one thing I care about.
If I’m to be unafraid in the moment of my death, I will be answering to my king and queen, “Yes, I have done the thing you sent me to do. I was part of the something great, the story I was sent to embody, the adventure I was sent to take part in and the legacy of the One who sent me."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.198]]>593clean131fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/living-the-life-we-re-sent-to-live-will-create-a-ripple-in-our-world--52013589Excerpt:
From my time in Caravan I know we’re sent, and that there is meaning to our lives. We don’t have to create a company or institution. To live the life we’re sent to live will create a ripple in our world.
A character in a movie I saw talked about the effect of being part of something great. He said all it takes is a moment, being part of something great, and nothing in your world will ever be the same. What if something great was being part of the movement of the divine plan? What if it’s to do what I can remember?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.197]]>52288719-f6b3-4857-bf36-fc299dec26c1Mon, 15 Aug 2022 01:29:55 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirty. This week, David reflects on the something "great" he would choose to be a part of. Excerpt: From my time in Caravan I know we’re sent, and that there is meaning to our lives. We don’t have to create a company or institution....Excerpt:
From my time in Caravan I know we’re sent, and that there is meaning to our lives. We don’t have to create a company or institution. To live the life we’re sent to live will create a ripple in our world.
A character in a movie I saw talked about the effect of being part of something great. He said all it takes is a moment, being part of something great, and nothing in your world will ever be the same. What if something great was being part of the movement of the divine plan? What if it’s to do what I can remember?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.197]]>591clean130fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-if-the-angel-of-death-were-with-me-here-now--52013571Excerpt:
Now as I write, I wonder: If I stood before the One that sent me, how would I feel about what I’ve designed for my life? How would I account for what I’ve done with the design given to me? Until Verity called me to Caravan, had I ever thought about the design I was given? Had I ever thought in terms of what co-design is possible?
What if the Angel of Death were with me, here, now? What if I were writing my last thoughts on this life? How would I have to have lived so that I could feel I had nothing to fear in this moment about what comes next? Who would I have to become to walk calmly toward what is next? If this were my moment, how would I feel?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.196]]>1f692c00-f127-4fda-b8af-a8c01018e0b3Sun, 07 Aug 2022 22:21:56 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twenty-nine. This week, David reflects on who he would have to become so that, at the end of his life, he could walk calmly towards what is next. Excerpt: Now as I write, I wonder: If I stood before the One that sent me, how would I...Excerpt:
Now as I write, I wonder: If I stood before the One that sent me, how would I feel about what I’ve designed for my life? How would I account for what I’ve done with the design given to me? Until Verity called me to Caravan, had I ever thought about the design I was given? Had I ever thought in terms of what co-design is possible?
What if the Angel of Death were with me, here, now? What if I were writing my last thoughts on this life? How would I have to have lived so that I could feel I had nothing to fear in this moment about what comes next? Who would I have to become to walk calmly toward what is next? If this were my moment, how would I feel?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.196]]>702clean129fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-call-of-your-heart-of-heart-designing-your-life--52013565Excerpt:
It occurred to me then, that I could not just design my day. Days sat within the context of weeks, which sat within the context of months, within a year. Over the average week how would I design a day, and how then, was a week built? How do I create my ideal? How did weeks create months, within a year of my heart’s ideal? How would my ideal accommodate the ebb and flow of life, of active and going inward times? I smiled as this led me to think of the larger potential cycles of five to twenty years.
Thinking in terms of decades evoked a kind of resignation. Wasn’t that out of my hands? This brought me back to the work already done in Caravan. I remembered the work with the hi-story of our lives. Thestory we tell ourselves about what has happened, and what we want to happen, largely determine the direction of our life. Then there is the question of intention. The work we were doing in Caravan called our horizontal world selves toward our life mission in each moment. It also called us to our life mission over a lifetime. This is a cause in motion of many decades.
I was not setting a long-term goal. In fact, I was not goal-setting at all. At least not yet, or in the way we usually think about it. What I wanted was what I would choose from my heart. What would my heartdesign for my life? What is my heart of heart’s ideal life for me? How would I choose to design my life?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.194]]>96dcc2d1-0d48-4d08-8409-29f837424d49Sun, 31 Jul 2022 18:52:18 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twenty-eight. This week, David continues to explore designing his ideal life and the call of his heart of heart. Excerpt: It occurred to me then, that I could not just design my day. Days sat within the context of weeks, which sat...Excerpt:
It occurred to me then, that I could not just design my day. Days sat within the context of weeks, which sat within the context of months, within a year. Over the average week how would I design a day, and how then, was a week built? How do I create my ideal? How did weeks create months, within a year of my heart’s ideal? How would my ideal accommodate the ebb and flow of life, of active and going inward times? I smiled as this led me to think of the larger potential cycles of five to twenty years.
Thinking in terms of decades evoked a kind of resignation. Wasn’t that out of my hands? This brought me back to the work already done in Caravan. I remembered the work with the hi-story of our lives. Thestory we tell ourselves about what has happened, and what we want to happen, largely determine the direction of our life. Then there is the question of intention. The work we were doing in Caravan called our horizontal world selves toward our life mission in each moment. It also called us to our life mission over a lifetime. This is a cause in motion of many decades.
I was not setting a long-term goal. In fact, I was not goal-setting at all. At least not yet, or in the way we usually think about it. What I wanted was what I would choose from my heart. What would my heartdesign for my life? What is my heart of heart’s ideal life for me? How would I choose to design my life?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.194]]>801clean128fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-would-your-ideal-day-be--52013570Excerpt:
I had design work to do for the studio, and the only design I had the heart for was this life, my new life now in the horizontal world. I realized it was more a chain of events that had swept me to the place  I found myself, than any conscious choice. In the moment of deciding I must have thought I was choosing. It was only in retrospect that I could see I’d been carried by a current created elsewhere. I wanted to choose consciously and with my heart. This was the design assignment I was interested in now.
How would I choose to design my life? I had a large pad of newsprint on the drafting table. I began to half-draw and half-write images that emerged.
I asked myself, what would my ideal day be?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.193]]>ba9d6e91-2b22-4df4-8630-e5f45c65298eSun, 24 Jul 2022 07:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twenty-seven. This week, David begins to creatively explore designing his life and his ideal day. Excerpt: I had design work to do for the studio, and the only design I had the heart for was this life, my new life now in the horizontal...Excerpt:
I had design work to do for the studio, and the only design I had the heart for was this life, my new life now in the horizontal world. I realized it was more a chain of events that had swept me to the place  I found myself, than any conscious choice. In the moment of deciding I must have thought I was choosing. It was only in retrospect that I could see I’d been carried by a current created elsewhere. I wanted to choose consciously and with my heart. This was the design assignment I was interested in now.
How would I choose to design my life? I had a large pad of newsprint on the drafting table. I began to half-draw and half-write images that emerged.
I asked myself, what would my ideal day be?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.193]]>693clean127fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/committing-to-the-process-of-life-mission--52013578Excerpt:
I returned to threading the edge of Caravan, holding memories both simultaneous and layered. What Jun had said earlier moved deeper into my heart. I thought about life mission as trust, vow, and spiritualpractice. I thought about my life in the horizontal world and the tests of life mission. I felt the weight of the life force necessary to show up every day to my intention to live my life mission.
I committed to giving myself the time to discover what was next for me. I just didn’t have a sense of what to do with the rest of my life. What I did know was that I couldn’t continue that life. The all-night jobs, and the pointless assignments for clients I wouldn’t choose to give my life force to under other circumstances, were costing me in ways beyond health.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.68]]>7c97bc94-9e1f-4560-b399-b268131b1d0bSun, 17 Jul 2022 18:50:05 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twenty-six. This week, David reflects on the life force necessary to show up to life mission, and the commitment needed to discover what is next for him. Excerpt: I returned to threading the edge of Caravan, holding memories both...Excerpt:
I returned to threading the edge of Caravan, holding memories both simultaneous and layered. What Jun had said earlier moved deeper into my heart. I thought about life mission as trust, vow, and spiritualpractice. I thought about my life in the horizontal world and the tests of life mission. I felt the weight of the life force necessary to show up every day to my intention to live my life mission.
I committed to giving myself the time to discover what was next for me. I just didn’t have a sense of what to do with the rest of my life. What I did know was that I couldn’t continue that life. The all-night jobs, and the pointless assignments for clients I wouldn’t choose to give my life force to under other circumstances, were costing me in ways beyond health.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.68]]>544clean126fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/if-you-could-choose-your-life-now-how-would-you-design-it--52013576Excerpt:
As I prepared to get ready for my day as a designer, I realized I had never designed this day, this life, at least not with intention. This was just where I had wound up. My life was great in so many ways, and Iknew in my bones how blessed I was. It even had some elements of what I had dreamed of in my earliest memories. When did it happen, that I forgot and slipped into what showed up?
What would I design by choice? If I could start over, if I could choose my life now, how would I design it? This was the point of Verity’s assignment, was it not? Yes, I would design my life around my lifemission, if I knew what that was. I let that question sit, and walk with me as I left the coach house for the El and my day of design in Chicago.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.190-191]]>a61be731-cd20-49e3-ba19-16cff4d6f151Sun, 10 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week-twenty five. This week, David reflects on what it would mean to design his life by choice. How would he design it? Excerpt: As I prepared to get ready for my day as a designer, I realized I had never designed this day, this life, at...Excerpt:
As I prepared to get ready for my day as a designer, I realized I had never designed this day, this life, at least not with intention. This was just where I had wound up. My life was great in so many ways, and Iknew in my bones how blessed I was. It even had some elements of what I had dreamed of in my earliest memories. When did it happen, that I forgot and slipped into what showed up?
What would I design by choice? If I could start over, if I could choose my life now, how would I design it? This was the point of Verity’s assignment, was it not? Yes, I would design my life around my lifemission, if I knew what that was. I let that question sit, and walk with me as I left the coach house for the El and my day of design in Chicago.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.190-191]]>504clean125fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-feel-the-clues-to-your-life-s-mission-coming-together-like-threads--52013562Excerpt:
I saw the “ten thousand things,” code for choices without number. I felt the clues from the campfires moving in and through the eddies, moving now toward a choice. I felt the pieces, the threads of the weave, and their hints of possibility. Art, science, spirit, and life mission wove themselves together with all the other passions of my life. I felt the draw toward renaissance and living in the horizontal world integrating all the possible pursuits and interests of my soul. I felt the threads coming together.
Everything I dreamed of, each and every facet of my nature, each interest, fascination, and motivation was an important and necessary thread in this weave. Each of them pointed to this moment, and wovea vision, spinning at light speed toward this eternal now.
Everything on every level began to line up. It was the moment, a moment for the call to again open in a new way.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.206
Here is a recap of the practice from last week: The essence of the practice is to activate your reticular activating system with the intention of understanding more about your life's mission blueprint. What you notice this week will give you clues about your reason for being.
Step 1. Set your search image. Write this down on a piece of paper: "Reticular activating system, show me clues about what life mission means to me."
Step 2. Move through your day noticing what you notice. Write it down on a piece of paper during or at the end of the day. It might be one thing or many things that you notice. Just describe it as best you can.
You can hear more about this practice on our podcast episode: https://caravan-conversations....
And now for Step 3.
Step 3. This week, be present to the clues you collected last week and reflect on them. You may find it supportive to begin with an integrative activity such as writing with your non-dominant hand, moving your body, singing or toning, or drawing. Then reflect on the clues you've been gathering about your life's mission. What do you sense now?]]>17129551-9570-4b27-9fb8-267ab3d4179aTue, 05 Jul 2022 00:06:57 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twenty-four. This week, David sees and feels the clues to his life mission coming together, like threads. In the practice section, we continue to explore the process from last week, including Step 3. Excerpt: I saw the “ten thousand...Excerpt:
I saw the “ten thousand things,” code for choices without number. I felt the clues from the campfires moving in and through the eddies, moving now toward a choice. I felt the pieces, the threads of the weave, and their hints of possibility. Art, science, spirit, and life mission wove themselves together with all the other passions of my life. I felt the draw toward renaissance and living in the horizontal world integrating all the possible pursuits and interests of my soul. I felt the threads coming together.
Everything I dreamed of, each and every facet of my nature, each interest, fascination, and motivation was an important and necessary thread in this weave. Each of them pointed to this moment, and wovea vision, spinning at light speed toward this eternal now.
Everything on every level began to line up. It was the moment, a moment for the call to again open in a new way.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.206
Here is a recap of the practice from last week: The essence of the practice is to activate your reticular activating system with the intention of understanding more about your life's mission blueprint. What you notice this week will give you clues about your reason for being.
Step 1. Set your search image. Write this down on a piece of paper: "Reticular activating system, show me clues about what life mission means to me."
Step 2. Move through your day noticing what you notice. Write it down on a piece of paper during or at the end of the day. It might be one thing or many things that you notice. Just describe it as best you can.
You can hear more about this practice on our podcast episode: https://caravan-conversations....
And now for Step 3.
Step 3. This week, be present to the clues you collected last week and reflect on them. You may find it supportive to begin with an integrative activity such as writing with your non-dominant hand, moving your body, singing or toning, or drawing. Then reflect on the clues you've been gathering about your life's mission. What do you sense now?]]>840clean124fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/life-mission-practice-reticular-activating-system--52013566Excerpt:
“I’ve been asking why, out of all the possible life missions I could notice, why this life mission, and why this person? Why did I even notice? I could have gone right past it. What chain of events or synchronicity brought this person and life mission to my life and awareness? I could chalk it up to the reticular activating system, and no doubt it is involved, and it’s more than that. As my field scans billions of bytes of information in my world, in my environment, what brought this particular one to me and made sure it got my attention?”
Anna touched my arm and I stopped. “Intention is everything and the reticular activating system is what?”
“It’s the mechanism that filters the scan of our senses, that determines what we consciously see or are aware of. The reticular activating system holds the idea of what fits our sense of self, which will send on information that is in alignment with our sense of self. What doesn’t fit our picture of what makes up our world is filtered out, just as if we’d never seen it. “The reticular activating system is also involved when anything becomes important to us. It alerts us to anything connected to what we have decided is important when it comes into our field of awareness. It animates or lights up for us. Out of everything we could notice, we notice particular things because our reticular activating system gets the message to alert us to it. It is like the search image in field research.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 9, Life Mission, Vision, and Purpose: Assignments and Agreements, p.178]]>15f4391c-803b-4896-9f60-68867d593fb1Mon, 27 Jun 2022 15:53:09 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twenty three. This week, David and Anna explore the reticular activating system as a way of understanding the blueprint within us for our life's mission. This week's edition come with a practice that we'll follow up on next week....Excerpt:
“I’ve been asking why, out of all the possible life missions I could notice, why this life mission, and why this person? Why did I even notice? I could have gone right past it. What chain of events or synchronicity brought this person and life mission to my life and awareness? I could chalk it up to the reticular activating system, and no doubt it is involved, and it’s more than that. As my field scans billions of bytes of information in my world, in my environment, what brought this particular one to me and made sure it got my attention?”
Anna touched my arm and I stopped. “Intention is everything and the reticular activating system is what?”
“It’s the mechanism that filters the scan of our senses, that determines what we consciously see or are aware of. The reticular activating system holds the idea of what fits our sense of self, which will send on information that is in alignment with our sense of self. What doesn’t fit our picture of what makes up our world is filtered out, just as if we’d never seen it. “The reticular activating system is also involved when anything becomes important to us. It alerts us to anything connected to what we have decided is important when it comes into our field of awareness. It animates or lights up for us. Out of everything we could notice, we notice particular things because our reticular activating system gets the message to alert us to it. It is like the search image in field research.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 9, Life Mission, Vision, and Purpose: Assignments and Agreements, p.178]]>554clean123fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-context-of-life-mission-as-our-compass-through-the-shifting-sands-of-life--52013551Excerpt:
It’s clear in Caravan that this mission is to be the foundation of our life in the horizontal world. It’s the underlying grid for the structure of our life. It’s meant to be the context for every decision we make in this life.
The first difference between purpose and mission is the source of each word.
Mission is given, and purpose, I choose. If purpose has anything to do with my reason for being here, it is because I take the time to contemplate, remember, and articulate my life mission. It’s the choices I make, the aim I set for myself, and the person I need to be to accomplish my mission.
Purpose and mission are not the same thing. Purpose can be  completely disconnected from the reason I’m here. Mission and  purpose are associated only when I’ve chosen to “set before me” my  mission. It seems that mission has to come first. Then I can choose  an intention for who I need to be to accomplish it. When what set before myself is aligned with my mission and kept in view as  purpose, then who I need to be for my mission can manifest.
...
There are no maps of the shifting sands of the desert. They might be useful, for a short time at best. In Lawrence of Arabia, a nation declines even to build roads because they will disappear in the shifting sands. The shifting sands of the horizontal world render all our maps limited. Life mission is the direction we take for the long haul across a shifting terrain, a compass to guide us where only the eternals know where to find landmarks.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 2, Life Mission, Vision, and Purpose: Assignments and Agreements, p.37]]>f640ccfb-2c42-41e2-ae4b-10bd6abc2f98Mon, 20 Jun 2022 04:48:54 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twenty twenty-two. This week, David reflects in his expedition journal about the context of life mission, the difference between purpose and mission and life mission as our compass through the shifting sands of life. Excerpt: It’s...Excerpt:
It’s clear in Caravan that this mission is to be the foundation of our life in the horizontal world. It’s the underlying grid for the structure of our life. It’s meant to be the context for every decision we make in this life.
The first difference between purpose and mission is the source of each word.
Mission is given, and purpose, I choose. If purpose has anything to do with my reason for being here, it is because I take the time to contemplate, remember, and articulate my life mission. It’s the choices I make, the aim I set for myself, and the person I need to be to accomplish my mission.
Purpose and mission are not the same thing. Purpose can be  completely disconnected from the reason I’m here. Mission and  purpose are associated only when I’ve chosen to “set before me” my  mission. It seems that mission has to come first. Then I can choose  an intention for who I need to be to accomplish it. When what set before myself is aligned with my mission and kept in view as  purpose, then who I need to be for my mission can manifest.
...
There are no maps of the shifting sands of the desert. They might be useful, for a short time at best. In Lawrence of Arabia, a nation declines even to build roads because they will disappear in the shifting sands. The shifting sands of the horizontal world render all our maps limited. Life mission is the direction we take for the long haul across a shifting terrain, a compass to guide us where only the eternals know where to find landmarks.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 2, Life Mission, Vision, and Purpose: Assignments and Agreements, p.37]]>508clean122fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/will-this-move-me-closer-to-or-away-from-our-agreement--52013557Excerpt:
Savitri turned to watch the fire for a moment. Then, as if hearing something land in us, she went on with the lesson. “What if for each choice and decision in your life you had a context to choose from? Consider this question as that context. Ask yourself with each decision you make if this will move you closer to your agreement with the One or away from it. Ask yourself where the seeds you create will take you as they grow. What is the chain of events that grows from the possible choices you must choose from? How would life in the horizontal world change if you asked these questions first?”
Circling the campfire, she stopped behind me, and I sensed the web of our choices and decisions. I could almost hear the hum of connections singing toward and away from the metaphorical tree we were meant to grow into. “A great deal of grace moves with us in this process,” she said, “and the threads of missed agreements are opportunities for the One to create another call. ‘Come, come again,’ Rumi says, ‘though you have broken your vows a thousand times . . . Ours is not a caravan ofdespair.’”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 2, Life Mission, Vision, and Purpose: Assignments and Agreements, p.46]]>2e8bbc1b-b441-4351-8bce-febf298f483cTue, 14 Jun 2022 05:07:33 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twenty-one. This week, Savitri, a Caravan Guide, asks us, as we sit around the campfire, to reflect on our life choices and with each decision we make if this will move us closer to our agreement with the One or away from it. Excerpt:...Excerpt:
Savitri turned to watch the fire for a moment. Then, as if hearing something land in us, she went on with the lesson. “What if for each choice and decision in your life you had a context to choose from? Consider this question as that context. Ask yourself with each decision you make if this will move you closer to your agreement with the One or away from it. Ask yourself where the seeds you create will take you as they grow. What is the chain of events that grows from the possible choices you must choose from? How would life in the horizontal world change if you asked these questions first?”
Circling the campfire, she stopped behind me, and I sensed the web of our choices and decisions. I could almost hear the hum of connections singing toward and away from the metaphorical tree we were meant to grow into. “A great deal of grace moves with us in this process,” she said, “and the threads of missed agreements are opportunities for the One to create another call. ‘Come, come again,’ Rumi says, ‘though you have broken your vows a thousand times . . . Ours is not a caravan ofdespair.’”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 2, Life Mission, Vision, and Purpose: Assignments and Agreements, p.46]]>534clean121fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-would-a-year-of-living-dangerously-mean-to-you--52013559Excerpt:
I remembered a movie called The Year of Living Dangerously. This title always stirred something in me. What I wanted to know was what a year of living dangerously meant to me. It had the perfume of a romantic notion when it drifted though my mind usually. That night I wanted to know if it carried the possibility of a year of really living. What would this year require for something real to happen?
I realized that in my life, I’d taken chances and started over several times. I’d put it all on the line and staked my future so to speak, with bands and even design as a way of living. There had been moments on the road when I’d risked my life, something I usually found out only in retrospect. There was risk involved and yet I couldn’t decide if I’d lived dangerously in the way I was thinking about it then. What would a year of consciously living dangerously mean to me?
If I lived my assignment, holding nothing back and living unafraid, would I be willing to live what I discovered? My life living dangerously would be the real life and might turn out the safest after all. My living safely was neither safe nor living.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.194-195]]>5b55164e-7ee3-410c-8281-e8fb3e30568eTue, 07 Jun 2022 01:16:42 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twenty. This week, David reflects on what it would mean to consciously 'live dangerously' and how risking for his life mission might be the safest thing he could do. Excerpt: I remembered a movie called The Year of Living Dangerously....Excerpt:
I remembered a movie called The Year of Living Dangerously. This title always stirred something in me. What I wanted to know was what a year of living dangerously meant to me. It had the perfume of a romantic notion when it drifted though my mind usually. That night I wanted to know if it carried the possibility of a year of really living. What would this year require for something real to happen?
I realized that in my life, I’d taken chances and started over several times. I’d put it all on the line and staked my future so to speak, with bands and even design as a way of living. There had been moments on the road when I’d risked my life, something I usually found out only in retrospect. There was risk involved and yet I couldn’t decide if I’d lived dangerously in the way I was thinking about it then. What would a year of consciously living dangerously mean to me?
If I lived my assignment, holding nothing back and living unafraid, would I be willing to live what I discovered? My life living dangerously would be the real life and might turn out the safest after all. My living safely was neither safe nor living.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 10, Creating the Container, p.194-195]]>745clean120fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/looking-for-clues-through-noticing-what-you-notice--52013561Excerpt:
What I loved, I noticed. Looking back, it was difficult to tell which came first. Maybe that was itself a key. Sometimes, I loved what I was drawn to, which was why I noticed. What drew me when I didn’t love what I noticed? What was happening when something I noticed led later to a growing love for it?
I began to have a different relationship with the way I thought about what I loved. There is the love I felt for romantic, intimate, personal relationships. I saw relationship in a more expanded way. I saw relationship everywhere. What I chose to come into relationship with was tied into this sense of being drawn or magnetized. Why was I drawn? Why did I notice this versus that person, place, or thing? If the work of Caravan creates magnetism, attraction, or momentum toward agreements made in the direction of our life mission, then this is perhaps a signal from Caravan. I thought it might be wise to pay attention to these inklings of being drawn, to the impulses of my heart. I resolved to consciously pay attention to when and what I noticed.
I then looked at my life in the horizontal world and sifted through the days I remembered since Verity came for me. What did I notice? Where was I drawn? What did I love? I looked for any clue to life mission, vision, and purpose.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 9, Creating Possibilities, p.169.]]>4cf508e9-22d2-4915-842b-c4576ed37801Sun, 29 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week nineteen. This week, David reflects on the process of looking for clues about life mission through what he notices, is drawn to and loves. Excerpt: What I loved, I noticed. Looking back, it was difficult to tell which came first. Maybe...Excerpt:
What I loved, I noticed. Looking back, it was difficult to tell which came first. Maybe that was itself a key. Sometimes, I loved what I was drawn to, which was why I noticed. What drew me when I didn’t love what I noticed? What was happening when something I noticed led later to a growing love for it?
I began to have a different relationship with the way I thought about what I loved. There is the love I felt for romantic, intimate, personal relationships. I saw relationship in a more expanded way. I saw relationship everywhere. What I chose to come into relationship with was tied into this sense of being drawn or magnetized. Why was I drawn? Why did I notice this versus that person, place, or thing? If the work of Caravan creates magnetism, attraction, or momentum toward agreements made in the direction of our life mission, then this is perhaps a signal from Caravan. I thought it might be wise to pay attention to these inklings of being drawn, to the impulses of my heart. I resolved to consciously pay attention to when and what I noticed.
I then looked at my life in the horizontal world and sifted through the days I remembered since Verity came for me. What did I notice? Where was I drawn? What did I love? I looked for any clue to life mission, vision, and purpose.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 9, Creating Possibilities, p.169.]]>660clean119fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-have-you-wanted-during-your-lifetime--52013581Excerpt:
I sit at the edge tonight as we are about to begin, thinking about the many things I have wanted over the course of my life, a question Kairos left us with.  I could say they changed since I was young, and yet that isn’t entirely true. Most of what I want now, I’ve wanted all my life.
Kairos asked me what I believed.
He said to me, “If you believe you want something else now, the next question is why. Why do you want something you didn’t want when you were a teenager? Is this because you have grown up, or is it because you stopped believing in your dreams? Did you believe anything was possible, and, if so, what happened to that belief? Whether your dreams have changed or not, it is important to take the moment given in Caravan to contact what you really want now. If you find that you do not remember what you wanted when you were young, call to your seven-year-old self. Call to your teenager within. See if you can get in touch with the part of you that had a dream for your life when you were young.”
He asked me if I remembered a time when I considered anything possible.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 7, Considering Your Life Mission, p.136-137]]>7e50eff3-7ce2-426d-b04c-3c614658959eTue, 24 May 2022 02:43:55 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week eighteen. This week, Kairos invites David to reflect on what he has wanted during his lifetime, and to reconnect with what he wanted as a child and a teenager. Excerpt: I sit at the edge tonight as we are about to begin, thinking about...Excerpt:
I sit at the edge tonight as we are about to begin, thinking about the many things I have wanted over the course of my life, a question Kairos left us with.  I could say they changed since I was young, and yet that isn’t entirely true. Most of what I want now, I’ve wanted all my life.
Kairos asked me what I believed.
He said to me, “If you believe you want something else now, the next question is why. Why do you want something you didn’t want when you were a teenager? Is this because you have grown up, or is it because you stopped believing in your dreams? Did you believe anything was possible, and, if so, what happened to that belief? Whether your dreams have changed or not, it is important to take the moment given in Caravan to contact what you really want now. If you find that you do not remember what you wanted when you were young, call to your seven-year-old self. Call to your teenager within. See if you can get in touch with the part of you that had a dream for your life when you were young.”
He asked me if I remembered a time when I considered anything possible.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 7, Considering Your Life Mission, p.136-137]]>678clean118fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-does-it-mean-that-life-mission-is-personal--52013556Excerpt:
It felt good to shower and feel the water running over my physical body. It felt good to be back in the horizontal world, and I was inspired by my trips to Caravan. Moving between Caravan and the horizontal world, I could no longer ignore the call. I knew my life wasn’t right. I wasn’t happy. Still, I avoided the tough questions. I hadn’t recognized that I’d been in survival mode. I had enough of the basics needed to live and was in survival mode, emotionally and spiritually. Ironically, almost because of a kind of abundance of the basics I had purposely disconnected from the real questions.
Beginning with Verity’s assignment to discern my reason for being in both the horizontal and vertical worlds, I was ready to look at my personal life mission.
As Savitri had led the talk about life mission as found in world religions, I felt the personal nature of life mission through their founders. I felt the founder’s life mission of these traditions thread through the lives of those who continued them. Then as she talked about Plato and the correlation of life mission through the development of psychology, I felt it point even more in the direction of the personal. Of course, I said to myself, life mission is personal. That’s the point. We each have a unique, one-of-a-kind mission.
Something in me moved and I felt more alive than I’d felt in a very long time.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 5, Life Mission Across Culture and Over Time, p.95]]>4aaec942-7684-4eae-86ad-8b41b736d061Sun, 15 May 2022 17:30:00 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week seventeen. This week, David reflects reflects on where he has avoided the question of life mission and also the personal nature of life mission. Excerpt: It felt good to shower and feel the water running over my physical body. It felt...Excerpt:
It felt good to shower and feel the water running over my physical body. It felt good to be back in the horizontal world, and I was inspired by my trips to Caravan. Moving between Caravan and the horizontal world, I could no longer ignore the call. I knew my life wasn’t right. I wasn’t happy. Still, I avoided the tough questions. I hadn’t recognized that I’d been in survival mode. I had enough of the basics needed to live and was in survival mode, emotionally and spiritually. Ironically, almost because of a kind of abundance of the basics I had purposely disconnected from the real questions.
Beginning with Verity’s assignment to discern my reason for being in both the horizontal and vertical worlds, I was ready to look at my personal life mission.
As Savitri had led the talk about life mission as found in world religions, I felt the personal nature of life mission through their founders. I felt the founder’s life mission of these traditions thread through the lives of those who continued them. Then as she talked about Plato and the correlation of life mission through the development of psychology, I felt it point even more in the direction of the personal. Of course, I said to myself, life mission is personal. That’s the point. We each have a unique, one-of-a-kind mission.
Something in me moved and I felt more alive than I’d felt in a very long time.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 5, Life Mission Across Culture and Over Time, p.95]]>691clean117fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-connect-to-the-being-of-your-life-s-mission--52013577Excerpt:
Jun stood next to me then. He touched my shoulder for a second as he continued. “Yes, the being of your life mission is with you here in Caravan. It is a part of you, has been with you from the beginning,and does this work with you. It also is a being with its own integrity. It is timeless, as you are. You can ask for its help here as you can in the horizontal world. Your work in the horizontal world is done through this being as it is done with and through the One that sent you. Yes, it is of the One that sent you and has a kind of angelic presence in your life.
“If you are wondering if you will be shown how to contact the being of your life mission, I will say yes, though the instruction will be indirect. You will be your own best teacher in this. I advise you to hold the intention to be aware of your life mission. That is enough, just now. Your life mission is holding you in this work now, just as Caravan is holding all of us in this work. The One that sent us is in turn holding all of us and calling.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6, Life Mission - Individual, p.117]]>84b62ede-9f3d-4167-982c-26f87f74620aSun, 08 May 2022 01:50:54 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week sixteen. This week, Jun, a Caravan Guide, explains the nature of the being of life mission and how we may connect with it. Excerpt: Jun stood next to me then. He touched my shoulder for a second as he continued. “Yes, the being of your...Excerpt:
Jun stood next to me then. He touched my shoulder for a second as he continued. “Yes, the being of your life mission is with you here in Caravan. It is a part of you, has been with you from the beginning,and does this work with you. It also is a being with its own integrity. It is timeless, as you are. You can ask for its help here as you can in the horizontal world. Your work in the horizontal world is done through this being as it is done with and through the One that sent you. Yes, it is of the One that sent you and has a kind of angelic presence in your life.
“If you are wondering if you will be shown how to contact the being of your life mission, I will say yes, though the instruction will be indirect. You will be your own best teacher in this. I advise you to hold the intention to be aware of your life mission. That is enough, just now. Your life mission is holding you in this work now, just as Caravan is holding all of us in this work. The One that sent us is in turn holding all of us and calling.”
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6, Life Mission - Individual, p.117]]>672clean116fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/life-mission-for-the-love-of-the-game--52013550Excerpt:
“For the Love of the Game.” I used to hear that phrase in reference to Michael Jordan. I thought he represented something that was important for me to understand. Can we really do our life mission without on some level being in touch with this “love of the game”?
When I think about why I’m here and how I would bring this love of the game to my work in the world, the love of the game begins to breathe in me. I’ve felt that missing for longer than I can remember. Maybe it’s always been missing. I long for the passion and joy that the “love of the game” symbolizes to me. I want it to radiate and inform my way in both worlds. The being of my life mission deserves this. We all deserve to have this love of the game in our life.
It was time for me to remember what to do with my life.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.73]]>603fb7ef-cfbf-4097-a5c5-ee9006db9ee6Mon, 02 May 2022 23:52:14 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week fifteen. This week, David reflects on the saying "for the love of the game" in relation to his life's mission. Excerpt: “For the Love of the Game.” I used to hear that phrase in reference to Michael Jordan. I thought he represented...Excerpt:
“For the Love of the Game.” I used to hear that phrase in reference to Michael Jordan. I thought he represented something that was important for me to understand. Can we really do our life mission without on some level being in touch with this “love of the game”?
When I think about why I’m here and how I would bring this love of the game to my work in the world, the love of the game begins to breathe in me. I’ve felt that missing for longer than I can remember. Maybe it’s always been missing. I long for the passion and joy that the “love of the game” symbolizes to me. I want it to radiate and inform my way in both worlds. The being of my life mission deserves this. We all deserve to have this love of the game in our life.
It was time for me to remember what to do with my life.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4, Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.73]]>735clean115fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/who-do-you-think-is-doing-their-life-s-mission--52013555Excerpt:
On the way to the hotel where the man was speaking, I asked Anna, “Have you been thinking about who you thought was or is doing their life mission?”“Yes, from time to time. Why?”“It’s a place to begin talking about what life mission means. You said you wanted to know.
“I feel some of the writers I love might be doing their life mission. There are people who fight for something that strike me as having found something. Life mission? I’m not so sure. I imagine doctors and nurses in Doctors Without Borders must feel they’ve found it. We talked about the visual and performing arts and the people who support them. I could go on. Though the people I know personally are small in number, there are enough to notice in the world. Maybe it’s this small number who remember and live their life mission that keep it all going. They move us forward and create changes. Maybe they keep hope alive for us.”
After a moment’s quiet, I added, “Anna, after looking at everyone you could think of that might be doing his or her life mission, which of them were you personally drawn to? Consider even those you might never have thought had anything to with your life. Maybe they’re a symbol or metaphor, like a dream where each person holds important information for you.
“I’ve been asking why, out of all the possible life missions I could notice, why this life mission, and why this person? Why did I even notice? I could have gone right past it.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter : The Way of the Heart and What's Next, p.176-177.]]>294c27c8-e13c-4191-99fb-a71408f8bdc8Sun, 24 Apr 2022 18:33:54 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week fourteen. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, Excerpt: On the way to the hotel where the man was speaking, I asked Anna, “Have you been thinking about who you thought was or is doing their life mission?”“Yes, from...Excerpt:
On the way to the hotel where the man was speaking, I asked Anna, “Have you been thinking about who you thought was or is doing their life mission?”“Yes, from time to time. Why?”“It’s a place to begin talking about what life mission means. You said you wanted to know.
“I feel some of the writers I love might be doing their life mission. There are people who fight for something that strike me as having found something. Life mission? I’m not so sure. I imagine doctors and nurses in Doctors Without Borders must feel they’ve found it. We talked about the visual and performing arts and the people who support them. I could go on. Though the people I know personally are small in number, there are enough to notice in the world. Maybe it’s this small number who remember and live their life mission that keep it all going. They move us forward and create changes. Maybe they keep hope alive for us.”
After a moment’s quiet, I added, “Anna, after looking at everyone you could think of that might be doing his or her life mission, which of them were you personally drawn to? Consider even those you might never have thought had anything to with your life. Maybe they’re a symbol or metaphor, like a dream where each person holds important information for you.
“I’ve been asking why, out of all the possible life missions I could notice, why this life mission, and why this person? Why did I even notice? I could have gone right past it.
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter : The Way of the Heart and What's Next, p.176-177.]]>484clean114fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-else-is-there-for-you-to-remember--52013572Excerpt:
Use all you have learned here to continue discerning your own life mission. You still have more to remember to begin your work with Anna in the horizontal world. As you tour your country teaching people to work in the field, use the movement of your life to remember. Ask yourself who you are there. What else is there for you to remember? What have you learned in Caravan, in your life in the horizontal world, and to what end?"
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4: Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.249.]]>735cc8ae-e1ce-425a-aa6a-b73d67f149c9Tue, 19 Apr 2022 20:29:18 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week thirteen. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, Verity helps David prepare to bring his life mission work more fully into the horizontal world. Excerpt: Use all you have learned here to continue discerning your own...Excerpt:
Use all you have learned here to continue discerning your own life mission. You still have more to remember to begin your work with Anna in the horizontal world. As you tour your country teaching people to work in the field, use the movement of your life to remember. Ask yourself who you are there. What else is there for you to remember? What have you learned in Caravan, in your life in the horizontal world, and to what end?"
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4: Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.249.]]>615clean113fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/manifesting-life-mission-in-this-world-often-comes-down-to-community--52013543Excerpt:
She asked, "When we look to this vision of our purpose and mission, and who we surround ourselves with, there is a correspondence between them. It makes a difference in the end. It changes the course of our lives. Our mission simply cannot be done without the influence, inspiration, and support of the right people. The question of whether or not we manifest our mission will come down to the environment we create for our life. Who is in that environment with us will be the most important question to ask about that environment.
If the environment is that important and the people in that enviornment are the most important elements in any environment in terms of life mission, then how we approach relationships may be crucial. How would we have to respond to the people in our life for them to help us create the possibility we imagine for our life mission? Who would we have to include in our circle of friends and colleagues? Who will we need to become? Manifesting life mission in this world often comes down to a community that believes in and wants to support your mission."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4: Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.79.]]>3c851c43-b61e-4230-99e3-dcfb620f8c4dTue, 12 Apr 2022 04:30:45 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week twelve. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, Savitri shares about people in our lives and our environment in relation to life mission. Excerpt: She asked, "When we look to this vision of our purpose and mission,...Excerpt:
She asked, "When we look to this vision of our purpose and mission, and who we surround ourselves with, there is a correspondence between them. It makes a difference in the end. It changes the course of our lives. Our mission simply cannot be done without the influence, inspiration, and support of the right people. The question of whether or not we manifest our mission will come down to the environment we create for our life. Who is in that environment with us will be the most important question to ask about that environment.
If the environment is that important and the people in that enviornment are the most important elements in any environment in terms of life mission, then how we approach relationships may be crucial. How would we have to respond to the people in our life for them to help us create the possibility we imagine for our life mission? Who would we have to include in our circle of friends and colleagues? Who will we need to become? Manifesting life mission in this world often comes down to a community that believes in and wants to support your mission."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4: Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.79.]]>620clean112fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-life-mission-clues-are-found-in-how-others-describe-you--52013548Excerpt:
How would my current friends in the horizontal world describe me?  Distracted, I imagine. A little out of it, not too engaged, somewhere else. That would all be true. I've been in both worlds and not at all adept navigating yet. I don't think that's what Verity is asking.
They might also say creative, open, questioning, and driven many ways. Seeking something, wanting to be different. They would say musician, artist, seeker, and even businessperson. I've actually felt good about most of these. Do I still? They might say restless for a long time, maybe always. They might note that uncharacteristically, I'd wanted to party a lot lately. How would they describe that and reconcile the seeker?
In describing me, what might anyone say that would give a clue to my life mission?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6: Life Mission - Individual, p.158.]]>c3fdd3d5-c12e-4322-9e0a-6ff85aad0a08Fri, 01 Apr 2022 23:56:16 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week eleven. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, David ponders others would say about him that would give a clue to his life's mission. Excerpt: How would my current friends in the horizontal world describe me? ...Excerpt:
How would my current friends in the horizontal world describe me?  Distracted, I imagine. A little out of it, not too engaged, somewhere else. That would all be true. I've been in both worlds and not at all adept navigating yet. I don't think that's what Verity is asking.
They might also say creative, open, questioning, and driven many ways. Seeking something, wanting to be different. They would say musician, artist, seeker, and even businessperson. I've actually felt good about most of these. Do I still? They might say restless for a long time, maybe always. They might note that uncharacteristically, I'd wanted to party a lot lately. How would they describe that and reconcile the seeker?
In describing me, what might anyone say that would give a clue to my life mission?
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6: Life Mission - Individual, p.158.]]>603clean111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-being-of-your-life-mission--52013544Excerpt:
I wanted to be able to go inside myself and call the being of my life mission. If the being of my life mission is present in my time in the horizontal world, then is it also with me in Caravan?
Jun stood next to me then. "Yes, the being of your life mission is with you here in Caravan. It is a part of you, has been with you from the beginning and does this work with you. It is also a being with its own integrity. It is timeless, as you are. You can ask for its help here as you can in the horizontal world."
"If you are wondering if you will be shown how to contact the being of your life mission, I will say yes, though the instruction will be indirect. You will be your own best teacher in this. I advise you to hold the intention to be aware of your life mission."
"If you open your heart to the manifestation of your life mission, it will walk with you. If you hold it in your heart, like all relationships, it will respond to your call. If you open your heart in the horizontal world, you will hear your life mission calling you."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6: Life Mission - Individual, p.117.]]>607f4c08-b437-403b-a306-27504f1dadbfWed, 30 Mar 2022 00:33:02 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week ten. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, David explores life mission as a 'being', as Jun gives him some pointers. Excerpt: I wanted to be able to go inside myself and call the being of my life mission. If the...Excerpt:
I wanted to be able to go inside myself and call the being of my life mission. If the being of my life mission is present in my time in the horizontal world, then is it also with me in Caravan?
Jun stood next to me then. "Yes, the being of your life mission is with you here in Caravan. It is a part of you, has been with you from the beginning and does this work with you. It is also a being with its own integrity. It is timeless, as you are. You can ask for its help here as you can in the horizontal world."
"If you are wondering if you will be shown how to contact the being of your life mission, I will say yes, though the instruction will be indirect. You will be your own best teacher in this. I advise you to hold the intention to be aware of your life mission."
"If you open your heart to the manifestation of your life mission, it will walk with you. If you hold it in your heart, like all relationships, it will respond to your call. If you open your heart in the horizontal world, you will hear your life mission calling you."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 6: Life Mission - Individual, p.117.]]>340clean110fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/thinking-about-the-how-of-life-mission-while-still-asking-what--52013575Excerpt:
I said, "How do we live our life mission in the world? Once we remember our agreement with the One that sent us, how do we live it? How do we actually bring life mission into form? How do we make it real and tangible and practical?
"To think about the 'how' while still asking 'what' could prevent us from considering something that seemed too daunting."
"What I think now is that we should hunt for clues to the 'what' while we're also holding the 'why' question of meaning and values. Then, as the sense of the possible 'what' begins to emerge, another question would be, 'In service to what?'
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 12: Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.237.]]>8b3ad33d-533a-4b06-858c-6855172804b0Sun, 20 Mar 2022 04:40:12 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week nine. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, David, in conversation with Anna, reflects on the question of "how" to live their life's mission. Excerpt: I said, "How do we live our life mission in the world? Once we...Excerpt:
I said, "How do we live our life mission in the world? Once we remember our agreement with the One that sent us, how do we live it? How do we actually bring life mission into form? How do we make it real and tangible and practical?
"To think about the 'how' while still asking 'what' could prevent us from considering something that seemed too daunting."
"What I think now is that we should hunt for clues to the 'what' while we're also holding the 'why' question of meaning and values. Then, as the sense of the possible 'what' begins to emerge, another question would be, 'In service to what?'
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 12: Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.237.]]>478clean19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/is-life-mission-for-all-times-and-places--52013549Excerpt:
I remember a woman around Savitri's campfire asking, "Can the idea of life mission survive hard times? Is this an idea that only works in a good economy for the well-off?"
Savitri answered, "It is tempting to think so. Yet this is only the apparent side effect of your current culture. Having a purpose in life is as old as humankind, as old as the universe itself. It could be argued that the universe is itself purposeful. The One sends us with a purpose and, as you can see, people from all lands and cultures of the horizontal world come to the Caravan of Remembering. This is the work for all of us."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4: Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.78.]]>c35cb3a5-2ea9-4b91-b35e-825a0dcc5206Sat, 12 Mar 2022 06:18:31 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week eight. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, David reflects in his expedition journal about whether life mission is for all times and places, or just for the 'lucky few.' Excerpt: I remember a woman around Savitri's...Excerpt:
I remember a woman around Savitri's campfire asking, "Can the idea of life mission survive hard times? Is this an idea that only works in a good economy for the well-off?"
Savitri answered, "It is tempting to think so. Yet this is only the apparent side effect of your current culture. Having a purpose in life is as old as humankind, as old as the universe itself. It could be argued that the universe is itself purposeful. The One sends us with a purpose and, as you can see, people from all lands and cultures of the horizontal world come to the Caravan of Remembering. This is the work for all of us."
The Caravan of Remembering, Chapter 4: Committing to the Process of Life Mission, p.78.]]>651clean18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/choosing-life-mission-first--52013553Excerpt:
It was morning again when I returned to the horizontal world. I was surprised to be back, apparently for an intermission. As I took my time getting ready for the day in the horizontal world, I paused to appreciate the beauty of early morning. It was reassuring to see the sun rising in the sky. It was even more reassuring to see it higher above the horizon in the sky.
As I weighed what might be my priorities for the day, I also thought about choosing each moment in the context of my mission here in the horizontal world. Still needing to identify my life mission, I asked myself if my to-do list would bring me closer to the manifestation of that mission or take me further away. I thought about what choosing life mission first would mean in this world on a day-to-day basis, on a practical level.]]>fb8d1992-4f38-49a6-be10-1ba4c00498d3Tue, 08 Mar 2022 20:25:14 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week seven. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, David contemplates the relationship between his to-do list and his life's mission. Excerpt: It was morning again when I returned to the horizontal world. I was surprised...Excerpt:
It was morning again when I returned to the horizontal world. I was surprised to be back, apparently for an intermission. As I took my time getting ready for the day in the horizontal world, I paused to appreciate the beauty of early morning. It was reassuring to see the sun rising in the sky. It was even more reassuring to see it higher above the horizon in the sky.
As I weighed what might be my priorities for the day, I also thought about choosing each moment in the context of my mission here in the horizontal world. Still needing to identify my life mission, I asked myself if my to-do list would bring me closer to the manifestation of that mission or take me further away. I thought about what choosing life mission first would mean in this world on a day-to-day basis, on a practical level.]]>499clean17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-do-you-know-about-your-essential-nature--52013568Excerpt:
"Right livelihood calls us to be in service to something larger than ourselves.The Eightfold path also calls for the liberation of all sentient beings. I feel that this path also reminds that to be here at all is a great opportunity. Wouldn't that make it important to honor our reason for being here?"
Watching her as she talked, Savitri replied to her, "Yes, the Buddha is quoted as saying, 'Your work is to find your work and give all of yourself to it.' When the Buddha says this, what is he saying? Is he asking us to find something or anything that we can do and give all of our self to? Is he saying we should attune to the nature of our mind stream, or to the essential nature that is each of us and give all of our self to that?
There is an essential nature that is the unique nature of your Self. The way this essential nature meets the world will be the way you can be of service to all sentient beings. This essential nature holds the gift of your call."]]>a77bccbd-911b-46cc-a6a6-70f8f8fca155Sun, 27 Feb 2022 22:54:10 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week six. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, David listens as Savitri and a young girl have a conversation about Right Livelihood in Buddhism and how it relates to our essential nature. Excerpt: "Right livelihood...Excerpt:
"Right livelihood calls us to be in service to something larger than ourselves.The Eightfold path also calls for the liberation of all sentient beings. I feel that this path also reminds that to be here at all is a great opportunity. Wouldn't that make it important to honor our reason for being here?"
Watching her as she talked, Savitri replied to her, "Yes, the Buddha is quoted as saying, 'Your work is to find your work and give all of yourself to it.' When the Buddha says this, what is he saying? Is he asking us to find something or anything that we can do and give all of our self to? Is he saying we should attune to the nature of our mind stream, or to the essential nature that is each of us and give all of our self to that?
There is an essential nature that is the unique nature of your Self. The way this essential nature meets the world will be the way you can be of service to all sentient beings. This essential nature holds the gift of your call."]]>494clean16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-you-thought-would-always-be-in-your-life--52013540c91677f9-6d7c-472e-82eb-939bd889ceddTue, 22 Feb 2022 19:14:58 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week five. In the following excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, Verity asks David and others in Caravan to explore what they thought would always be in their lives, and then consider how this relates to their life's mission.663clean15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-is-the-deep-ache-in-your-heart--52013541The collective mood of reflection moved David to ask "what the deep ache in my heart meant for my place in all of this?".]]>02dd2cf7-5d19-4c4b-a478-3b1ba82d253cSat, 12 Feb 2022 00:23:43 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week four. In this excerpt, David describes how Caravan moved, in near silence, a community deep in contemplation. Nearly everyone walking that night appeared to have something weighing on his or her heart - a sea of pilgrims moving...The collective mood of reflection moved David to ask "what the deep ache in my heart meant for my place in all of this?".]]>434clean14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-do-you-truly-love--52013539a16ff191-d13b-433f-b4a2-7fbec16e1f3dFri, 04 Feb 2022 23:02:51 +0000James TousignantIn today's episode Carissa and James share their reflections on an excerpt from The Caravan of Remembering, where David experiences the collective movement of Caravan, as inviting him into deep reflection. This movement also seems to trigger in him an...446clean13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/its-up-to-us-to-explore-the-mystery--520135469be9551f-5cbf-4013-98b3-b543d3092bcbFri, 28 Jan 2022 04:44:02 +0000James TousignantWelcome to week two. In this excerpt, David has encountered someone who is claiming to tell people their life mission. He reflects on how the work of Caravan does not do this and that is up to each of us to explore the mystery of who we are.421clean12full