{"id":12377,"date":"2016-05-02T08:37:40","date_gmt":"2016-05-02T15:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/?p=12377"},"modified":"2016-05-02T08:48:46","modified_gmt":"2016-05-02T15:48:46","slug":"anne-boleyn-is-arrested-and-a-small-but-important-spiritual-lesson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/2016\/05\/anne-boleyn-is-arrested-and-a-small-but-important-spiritual-lesson.html","title":{"rendered":"Anne Boleyn is Arrested, and a Small But Important Spiritual Lesson is Suggested"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"Anne<\/a>
\nIt was on this day in 1536 that the Queen of England, Anne Boleyn, was arrested, charged with treason, oh, and also incest, and adultery, and just to make sure, witchcraft. Seventeen days later she lost her head. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m not exactly sure what the take away should be for us as we note this day. But, I think I\u2019m going with don\u2019t cross absolute monarchs. <\/p>\n

Oh, and maybe don\u2019t let anyone be an absolute monarch. Even yourself. You know that one that lives inside your head and wears the Napoleon hat? The one that knows it is right. Always. Now that right can be as seductive as can be. And, don\u2019t be deceived; based upon your preferences that \u201calways right\u201d can even be disguised as \u201calways wrong.\u201d A real trickster that monarch, constantly excreting thoughts, excreting certainties. Blinding us to the real world in all its dynamic and wild expression, now this, now that. The best scientists hold a place somewhere in their hearts that somewhere one and one may not equal two. And the spiritual pilgrim should hold all ideas lightly, no matter how compelling, no matter how true they may present.<\/p>\n

As the old bumpersticker goes, don\u2019t believe everything you think.<\/p>\n

Which I thought wasn\u2019t quite right.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t believe anything you think. Or, at least as little as you can.<\/p>\n

The secret sauce to all spiritual disciplines\u2026<\/p>\n