Mind over Matter

Many years ago, just after I completed the Avatar course and started Sanctuary Resorts, I was on a business trip to Kuala Lumpur to attend the Board meeting of the Indian Ocean Tourism Organization (IOTO). I had just purchased a new suitcase for the trip and on arrival at the hotel I realized that the lock was not closing properly. I decided that I needed to re-set the lock and started to follow the instructions. However in trying to re-set the lock I accidentally closed the case without knowing the new combination number.

All the papers I needed for the meeting were in the suitcase. I tried to open the case with various combinations, getting more and more frustrated each spin of the three digit configuration required.

I remembered that a friend of mine had told me another mutual friend had once used Reiki to fix a fax machine in their office, and I had this thought that perhaps I could open the suitcase using a similar method.

For some reason I felt that if I could just focus enough energy I may be able to open the lock, although I had never done such a thing before.

In order to distract my mind from being upset, I made some telephone calls and did some reading, and then tried again, but still without success. I was getting resigned to calling the maintenance department to loan me a screwdriver to break the lock of my nice new suitcase.

As I wasn’t getting anywhere fast, I decided to go for a walk and get some fresh air. After about an hour, I returned to the room and as it was getting near to the time for the meeting I thought this was my last try to open the suitcase using the power of positive thinking of my mind only. I laid my hands on the combination lock, closed my eyes and focused on opening the lock with the right combination. Without looking, I used my thumbs to turn the numbers on the lock…and it opened! WOW, I was amazed. I cannot say how it happened, it just did. I looked at the numbers and realized I would never have remembered them or knowingly used that set of numbers as the combination.

For me this was a very positive experience and I believe was a lesson to me that if we really concentrate and focus on what we want to achieve, we can do anything…we can even achieve Mind over Matter!

Now, more than ten years later, it happened again!

A few days ago I was in my hotel room this time in Hong Kong, again with a new suitcase, and again inadvertently locked my suitcase without knowing the new combination number. (What is it with me and combination locks?!)

This time it wasn’t so bad, as the case was in the “open” position when it happened, but I still couldn’t use the locking mechanism of my new suitcase in future. I tried a couple of times to jiggle the combination, but without success, and went through a similar process as I described above, but with no luck. I started to wonder if I had lost my touch!

Then just this afternoon with a calm, but focused approach I decided to set about opening the combination lock. Once again closing my eyes, after a few gyrations of the three digit numbers, the lock opened!

Is this another example of mind over matter? Or just Luck. To be honest I cannot say for sure. I know what I believe, and it works for me!

However, one thing I have learnt over time is that with many challenges in our lives, depending on whether we look at them from a positive or negative viewpoint the outcome can be quite different. In fact when looking at such situations my belief is that there is enough energy within us that allows us to develop such power over even material things, as long as we are willing to let go, have a good and clear intention and not harbor selfish or restrictive feelings. As I often say when confronted with such situations and dilemmas…it’s just a case of Mind over Matter…I don’t Mind, and it doesn’t Matter! J

60 years of synchronicity

I felt that I had to write more here and now.

As I approached my 60th birthday I felt that I had to be back in Hong Kong at this time, and events seem to have supported this feeling.

I have had an interesting week of meetings and re-connections. If you believe in synchronicity, (and I do!), then several events support this phenomenon, and one particular one stands out.

During this week I went to see my tailor in Hong Kong, Andy Shum of Practical Tailors. He is the tailor that originally provided me with my signature suit which I will detail in another passage, the Omen of the Tailor. I have not been to Andy for a awhile and although I do like my signature suit, I had been thinking about having a second, casual jacket to complement my wardrobe and for travel. When I mentioned this briefly to Andy during my fitting, once again he brought out a jacket that he was preparing for another client that was exactly the style I was looking for, and for which he was in the process of developing a pattern. He seems to have a knack for providing just the right article at the right time. Are my thoughts transferring to him subconsciously?!

The second event was the 30th Anniversary re-union party being scheduled for the staff of the Kowloon Shangri-La. As soon as I heard about the event I knew I had to be there. The evening was a great celebration, held at the Kowloon Shangri-La hotel and attended by nearly 200 people. It was a wonderful opportunity to re-connect with ex-colleagues and friends, many of whom I had not seen for more than twenty five years. A lot of us have now decided to keep in contact using Facebook. It was nice that a number of them said I had not changed in all those years. Guess I always looked old! :-)

The third and most interesting re-connection came earlier on the same day, as I was scheduled to meet another ex-colleague and friend from my Marco Polo days, Joel Teo. Joel was the IT specialist for the group, and is now with Peninsula Hotels. He had helped me select a suitable Laptop before and had now offered to help me look for a replacement for my existing one which was not working so well. As I set off for the lunch time meeting I realized I needed to get some additional pocket money, so on arrival at the MTR station at the Elements shopping mall I went to the nearest ATM machine. However this was not working and I was directed to another one a few floors away.

There were two machines and one both had people using them. The one on my left had a lady waiting to be next, so I politely lined up in front of the other one, not really taking much notice of the other people in the queue. As the person in front of me finished first, and the lady standing in the next line had been waiting before me, I turned to offer her to go to the terminal in front of me. It was only then when our eyes met that we both realized we knew each other. It was Doris Ho, my previous secretary from Marco Polo Hotels! What a wonderful surprise. We hadn't seen each other for several years, and were able to take this time to catch up. Doris then came with me and was able to meet with Joel Teo, as we all worked together, and she also hadn't seen him for a long time. Doris mentioned that she had gone to the first ATM as well, and if that had been working we probably wouldn't have met. An interesting piece of synchronicity at work.

Although many people put such events down to coincidences, if we take time to focus and reflect on such happenings I believe we find a deeper process and connection in motion. I find that such synchronicity happens more regularly these days, not only in my life, but in that of the people around me. What my brother explains as "Your (my) Celestine Prohecy moments"! We are still discovering the miracles of the Universe, I still learn new things every day and wonder at them, even at my advanced age. I am sure even more interesting developments will be attained in future as we reach a harmonious balance of Body, Mind and Spirit, not only in our personal lives, but in our professional activities, and in our communities.

With Love and Light