Element 1  Guiding Principles

•   The Words

.».  Opening
       Words factor in to almost every part of our lives.  They are there in our mind describing our perception of life.  Here we explore alternative ways to interact with words in relation to interacting with the Practice towards the intention of changing those perceptions (limitations) of life.
       This Topic and E1. Reading the Practice are Practice specific (like instructions) but there is more to them as well.

.».  Expressions
The Words of the Practice:
» The words are not meant to explain, the words trigger the (that) feeling… let them.
       Let (allow) that feeling move you, over right and wrong, should, chasing, pushing, pulling, manipulating…
       Note:  I tried multiple times to rewrite these opening Expressions.  They are something less than eloquent.  I could  remove the bracketed words, it would be an option to continue on as we have before, sometimes different is an option to consider.  One morning I felt it; let the feeling move you over right, wrong, pushing, pulling… basically I could feel the idea of; let that feeling move you (move as in action, life).  The main theme of this Topic being that the energy exists beyond the arrangement of the words.
       One way the energy comes to life is through the use of the brackets (E1. Reading) within the Practice.  You may have noticed from the above text (possibly questioned why) the Practice is including “that” in brackets, same for “allow”.  That feeling is an idea we introduce in Element 3 (E3. Intention, » That Feeling), a way to live or feel life different than you may now.  Allow is a Topic of Source 5 (S5. Allow) to explore.  The brackets are also used to emphasize different ideas, typically an understood approach, there is an intention to the brackets.
» The weaving (together) of the words.
       In one context the words mean this (x), in another context the words mean that (y).  As you go deeper into the Practice the weave will tighten and the distance between right and wrong, yes and no, positive and negative, self and not self will close, disappear.  From here it’s imperative that you allow the feeling associated with the words to surface.  The feeling over the meaning.  It’s ok to get it wrong, just keep feeling and moving forward.
       As the distances close and the feeling becomes stronger your perceptions of life will change.  Some moments previously seen as right or wrong you will now view through compassion (S3. Compassion).  Compassion is independent of judgement (right/wrong) and what lives in the space between accepting/judging (S2. Judgement).  
       Between positive and negative is the realization it’s all simply energy (S4. Energy).  From the space between you realize the energy in all situations to use for the advancement of your life.
       As your view of words change you will start to notice the actual changes in your practical physical life.

Intention:
» Expectations are different than Intentions.
       Expectations relate to expecting something in the future, Intention typically includes the word plan in it’s definition.  To have a plan (intention) is to take action now (presence) in the creation and action of that plan, expectations are solely in the future (non presence).
       You likely already understand these words convey different purpose.  The idea of having them be a Guiding Principle is to bring intention and presence to the forefront of your awareness as you let go of expectations (S2. Expectations).  Intention and presence are synonymous in this context; to live your intention is to be present with your intention.  See (S9. Presence) and (S5. Intention).
» Goals are different than intentions.
       Goals you achieve, intentions you live all the way through (start to… ).  Intentions are the living of the present moment through action.  The wonderful part of intentions are: you need not achieve them for them to be a success.  In living out your intention (through action now) the outcome initially becomes less significant and eventually irrelevant.  To understand this is to recognize the difference between goal and intention, to live this is to know (S4. To Know).
       Note:  Say you set an intention to live a long and happy life.  Many years later you may pause to look back at how you lived your intention.  It’s all the wonderful times that will be the joy (to reflect on) not that you “met your intention”.  The intention becomes irrelevant, living out that intention closer to the meaning of life…
      With a goal you may not be “there” through all the steps and only at the end have presence for one moment “I met my goal”.  The focus is on the end goal (future).  With intention the focus is on now and ultimately what happens in the future irrelevant, it’s the intention (plan) and action that is important.  Where goal is achievement intention is path, the living of the present moment through (your) intention.  Setting your intention (is) the mechanism, living your intention is the life.   See S5. Inspiration.
» Set your Intention.
       The word intention is a key element to the Practice.  You can set an intention for any Topic of this Practice, you can set an intention for any (and all) times of your life.  By setting your intention (out loud or to yourself) you connect the intention to your practice (action).
       One way to set your intention is to use the Expression May I…. For example during a meditation set the intention of may I find the stillness inside me (from this meditation) or simply say my intention for this meditation is to find the stillness inside me.
       As you get to know yourself (S11. Know Yourself) at a deeper level you will find you can use less words yet know.  This is to live out the difference between idea and thought (S11. The Idea).  By pausing for a moment to set your intention you bring your focus to here/now plus what you are working on.
       Note:  I found it hard to pause and set an intention.  I constantly wanted to get back to what I was working on.  I also had trouble defining the intention, what intention did I want to set for this moment.  To answer the question of what is my intention for right now…

.».  Examples
       As you see more of life as energy (S4. Energy), you notice the energy in situations.  There is energy in problems that when seen only as energy (rather than negative or positive) becomes potential.  It’s the same idea with words, notice the feeling the words are eliciting in you rather than the meaning.

       With a goal of traveling to a certain city you may achieve that goal.  With an intention of traveling to that same city through presence while planning out the trip you may find your love is of travel more than one particular destination.  
       Your intention has awoken something inside you larger than the end goal.  Intention can change your entire life going forward.
       Sometimes the difference between a goal and intention is your opening up to a larger life.  Including your internal life beyond destinations and things.  
       Walking out your front door you could set an intention to remain peaceful and happy during this trip.  You may or may not but you have this idea there in the forefront of your consciousness as a great place to start your journey.  Before the spiraling out of control happens your intention may pull you back from the brink…

.».  Summary
       The intention of this Topic is to emphasize the importance of how we interact with words in relation to our perceptions (S1. Reality).  Ultimately as you understand (then know) more energy shifts from what (we do) to how we do the actions of our lives.  Including our interacting with words (thoughts).
       One day maybe laying in bed tired, with the thoughts playing in your mind over and over you may realize in your life “it’s not working”.  Possibly you wonder is there something to the concepts (ideas) of this Practice that can help you to change that and subsequently contemplate going deeper into this process.

(E1. The Words)  © 2023 Busacca