The Spring 2009 Starlight Journal is here! Filled with submissions from users, we hope you'll find it enjoyable and useful. If you'd like to have your work considered please email me with your written work or picture. We'll soon be opening it to audio files too, so all you musicians and spoken word artists be ready!
An Ode to Manifestation
By Laurie Teggart
The concept of manifestation at first glance sounds so very simple. Referring to the Universal law of attraction, we as humans on this earth attract things that we put our own energy toward in the form of thoughts and emotion. Thus, with the existence of this law we have creative control over our lives in terms of what we choose to attract and manifest. My challenges with the concept of manifestation, as I have witnessed over the years, have been sticking with the vision of what I wanted, rather than changing my mind time and again; and trying to make sense of the tragedies in life in terms of conscious intentional manifestation. These challenges have not made me question this Universal Law, but rather question its highest use.
It seems that the desire to believe we control our lives, entirely, is a hidden temptation in this potent universal law. The veiled unconscious belief may even exist that this law is here to serve us in positioning ourselves in the game of life we reflect onto society. For some reason, this belief is much easier to digest than the idea that through this same universal law, we are somehow responsible for the bad that comes with the good. To empower oneself fully with the responsibility of our own actions, thoughts, belief systems and energy is imperative in the transformation of our society to a place where peace and harmony define abundance.
The thorough appreciation of manifestation and the law of attraction is, without question, a path to our highest potential. My personal understanding on the topic of manifestation comes with a belief system that accepts a divine consciousness, and an order to all things in the universe. With this conviction in mind I find it difficult to feel, as I move through this life learning and growing, that I am the ultimate decision maker of all that touches me from the outside in. I feel that this world is a place that often feeds power in its most destructive sense, and the natural forms of influence we are innately offered on this journey require a great deal of strength to hold in their purity.
My thoughts are that human consciousness is filtered through a lens of projection which limits every experience we encompass. These experiences are then the foundation we stand upon as we assemble the list of our personal wishes and desires. It is my belief that our future has far greater potential than we can ever imagine due to these confines. Often times, we lend attention to the concept of manifestation when something is not going the way we want it to or, when we fear an outcome if something does not change. We think and rethink and think again, using affirmations and positive suggestions to recreate our energies. We do this not only to get what we want but out of a response to not loving what we have. Perhaps this universal law has been given to serve us. To serve us, not in creating some sort of overindulgent life of material and ego-based gratification, but instead to teach us how to raise our own personal vibration and state of consciousness.
If we all chose to manifest based on what we love rather than what frustrates us, angers us, or as a response to fear, are we not vibrating at a higher level? This moment is the only moment we ever have. The past and future are places we visit when we leave this moment and enter a state of imagination and altered reality. Regardless of how much our mind convinces us of their existence, we always land smack dab right back in the middle of now. If we choose to look at our thoughts in terms of manifestation, centering them on the positive vibration of love and creating from that platform, have we not just miraculously changed our present reality and forever found a way to succeed at manifestation? For me, this is where the beauty and divine power of this tool truly lies.
Spontaneously, the miraculous shifting of one’s inner world to a place of love, gratitude and service opens us to receive without the confines of projection, ego or defense. I have found that, when aligned with these energies, I align with my higher self and am open to acknowledge that I have all I ever wanted and receive all I ever need. I am free to move in the directions that present themselves, and explore the opportunities of the moment with clarity. Without the desire to control an outcome in the future -- being solely responsible for one’s choice to be love, gratitude and service inclusive of all that exists in the moment, we are elevated to a level of consciousness that has the potential to sustain a thriving and fulfilled life always supported by …this moment. After great thought and consideration on this topic, I humbly submit that this form of manifestation feels to me like it is one step closer to peace on earth.
Morning Thoughts: A Brief Overview
~The Morning Storm~
I woke up a little earlier this morning with the sound of thunder rumbling across the Delta Sky and made my way into the kitchen to make a pot coffee. The booming thunder was so loud I thought thought it might wake the dead. "Wake the dead?" I asked out loud to no one, "What funny expressions we have in our American language." The thought of Zombies crawling out of their graves and staring up at the ominous sky that awoke them made me laugh and shake my head at such silly thoughts I was having as I yawned and waited for the coffee finish brewing.
While sipping my coffee and staring out the window at the beautiful display Mother Nature was putting on, my mind began to wonder into thoughts of death and life. I started reflecting on my own life and had many age old questions flood my mind. I began questioning myself "Who and what am I?" "What happens when we die?' "Is there a God? If so, what or who is God?" "What are these spiritual feelings I have?'
On and on my mind filled with the questions that has plagued conscious humans from their humblest beginnings... thoughts and questions I have had since I was a kid. My mind began searching, once again, for the answers and it took me back to my childhood.
~The Flower Years~
I guess I was about 6 or 7 years of age when I began to become hooked on flowers and started fashioning jewelry made from wildflowers to wear proudly. I adorned myself and my parents with crowns, necklaces, ankle bracelets, wrist bracelets, belts and rings of these fragrant and delicate crafts. I began teaching other children how to make these natural gifts; the practice became a favorite pastime for several girls and a few brave boys during school recess.
I remember holding flowers in my hand and gazing at it's natural beauty. Void of thoughts, I would meditate and become One with the florets as I created the adornments for others to wear. When the break was over we would head back to our classroom draped in wildflowers where our teacher was waiting to educate us in our next lesson. We were never asked to remove our jewels from the classroom but was encouraged to continue our creativity. Another flower practice I had as a child was eating edible flowers. White Clover, Violets, Roses, Buttercups and Black-eyed Susans, to name a few of the tasty treats.
Honeysuckle was my favorite floral in fragrance and taste. I spent time with the Honeysuckle vine: groomed it, pondered it, enjoyed the taste of the flowers, the smell, and began wearing the vine as well. Fields of wildflowers became a favorite playground - one of the advantages of living in the country over the city. My parents were worried of snakes, old equipment, holes and other things that were hidden in the tall grassy play area and told me several times to stay away for safety reasons - but I was drawn to the beauty as if possessed by the flowers.
This recreation area is where I started talking to plants, listening to what they had to say and decided that plants will be an important part of my life. I would come home with beautiful bouquets to decorate around the house, for my parents and myself - knowing good and well my parents would know where I've been, I proudly walked home with a rainbow of delightful nature to bring into the home. During the flower wearing years of my life I began to examine insects, animals and rocks more closely. My imagination ran free to create images of myself combined with a particular creature or thing.
For instance, I could see myself as a butterfly, stone or earthworm. I could almost feel how fast I was flying as a darting Dragonfly or the coldness of the ground as my belly slithered across it in snake form. I became One with everything I came in contact with or my mind could imagine. ~Rolling Stones~ A common after school activity was to collect rocks. I did not understand why I wanted to decorate my dresser and build rock gardens with the stone treasures; I only knew I wanted them and felt close to them.
Sometimes I would silence my mind and meditate on a particular rock or a group of them. Other times I would try to imagine living my whole life as a rock; trying to understand a deeper meaning to them besides some of the facts I understood during my childhood: rocks are here on Earth and elsewhere in the Universe, they can be shelter for some creatures, make a great display in nature and in the home and make fairly good driveways.
When my parents took me to the mountains I saw for the first time the largest rocks I had ever seen. A few of the boulders was 3 or 4 times my height! It was explained to me that the boulders have broken off an even bigger rock - the mountain itself. I recall attuning My Being to the over-sized pebble that I was standing on, aligning my Spirit with it. I felt grandeur, power, majesty and a sense of duty to watch over the world. I felt my Ka soaring above landscape below.
This was one of the greatest experiences of my young life - and I learned that I was afraid of heights during this trip, but If I stayed away from the edge of the cliff I was just fine and at One with the ancient stone. The first time I dug for crystals was with my parents just outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas. I felt as if I was on a hunt for ancient buried treasure as I searched for larger pieces. In the end, we found small to medium size pieces of quartz and had the time of our lives.
We decided to go in one of the shops where I could see large quartz that was found in the area. Though a bit huffy I did not find such a big crystal on my own, I was pleased that my parents bought me one of the larger crystal clear minerals that I hand picked myself. That crystal became my most prized room decoration and the center piece of of several meditations.
During other special treasure hunts with my family we have found fossil rocks. I don't remember my first fossil find but I do remember my parents explaining they are basically impressions or imprints of animals, insects and plants left in the rocks; that fossil rocks are special because the image/impression in the rock I am seeing is extinct; that the fossils are thousands of years old - some millions of years old.
This sparked a new curiosity and wonder within me, now I can see some of the extinct things I was told about at home and in school. I become One with them - I became One with the fossil rock and the extinct creature or plant. I was now another step closer to ancient Earth. ~Animal Instinct~ From wild animals to pets, a profound part of me during the flower years became a kindred spirit with all things, providing the foundation that explains some experiences during the physical life time is occurring.
I've had too many experiences with animals during my flower years to write about here but is a topic that is necessary to briefly cover. At home, we had cats and dogs that provided hours of entertainment and unconditional love. Having pets provided me with the beginning skills of how to care for others in the way of food, water, shelter and other needs. Other skills I was taught is as follows: The cats trained me in physical balance, basic gymnastics, night vision, quiet footsteps, stalking, curiosity and caution.
The dogs taught me acute listening, loyalty, friendliness, protection, playfulness and physical strength. I recall spending time with these pets, and acting just like them to communicate with them in their language. I must have looked silly panting like a dog, scratching imaginary fleas and chasing a ball of yarn with the cat but, for me, a way to learn their ways; to learn how they view the world.
Today, I know this to be a form of Shape-Shifting; to become the desired animal. In the wild, birds became a favorite to meditate on. I would soar into the clouds with the Crows, dive-bomb for food with the Hawks, sing with the Blue-Jays and hop with the Robins. Birds became the best teacher of Spirit Soaring and music. Squirrels taught me to climb trees and save for future. I spent many hours during the flower years hanging out in the trees, watching the birds and squirrels.
This was also the best time to show off my abilities at 'swinging in the trees' as the monkeys on TV taught me to do. The zoo was a good place to see and learn about animals around the world, though I am not happy with many zoos today, I still have fond memories of seeing amazing creatures with my own eyes. My parents wanted me to have a better understanding of the world we live in, to see for myself just how tall a giraffe really is, how grand the sound of the elephants roar is and human-like the apes are.
This may have been the most profound experience of my life, to experience many animals from around the world first hand, and a way to become in Unity with them. The aquarium was another place that sparked my young mind. I recall watching the octopus and waiting for him to move so we could see his spender. The various sharks were almost scary and yet they were one of the most thrilling to see. The dolphins and seals provided the crowd with much needed laughs and smiles. The colours and patterns on the varieties of fish sparked some drawings after the visit. I remember the visit to the aquarium as a surreal and peaceful feeling and helped me to attune to the water worlds.
~The Darkness~
One of the highlights of my childhood was being outside after dark watching the lightening bugs dance and trying to chase them in hopes to catch one of the most fascinating creatures on the planet. I recall catching few, putting them in a jar and closing it with the lid my dad drilled holes so the bugs would have air. I sat the jar next to the bed and realized they created a natural nightlight. I became One with the insects in the jar before I drifted off to sleep. The next day I released the bugs that made it through the night.
The practice of putting the bugs into a jar overnight ended quickly because most of them perished in the jar and I my intentions were never to harm them but I did however continue to watch and chase them after nightfall. A favorite nighttime activity was to sit outdoors with my family and search the sky for passing comets, planets, UFOs, falling stars, and constellations while sipping lemonade or a soda.
I was amazed at how much we can see with the naked eye while the Sun hid its face from our view. I don't recall all the dialogs that went on between us but I do remember my parents teaching me all they know about the Universe we live in. They told me of ancient myths, historical facts, religious and spiritual beliefs, scientific facts and theories - concerning all we can see in the night sky. I could see that the Darkness reveals more than the Light; that in Darkness we can see clearly the Universe we live in.
I began to ponder the night sky and became the stars, planets, comets - all things I could see in the grand heavens above. Ghost hunting is an activity that is laughable to some and scorned or condemned by other people. Some people have made a hobby or a career out of searching for entities on Earth while others spend their lives preaching against the taboo practice. It became a childhood hobby of mine - usually in the Darkness.
My mom on occasions would take me to old graveyards or areas that were known to be (supposedly) haunted. Other times we would take an evening walk in hopes to encounter a spirit - knowing they are not always 'chained' to a location. We did have unexplainable events to occur, but this was very rare and most likely a product of our collective imagination, although I cannot say that positively.
This hobby was mainly a fun activity that most kids only dreamed of doing [especially with a parent] and it opened my heart, mind and senses to the possibilities of the spiritual realms - the possibilities of more after the physical body is dead. I began to feel Oneness with the Spirit World. ~The Answer: Child's Play~ After briefly examining the flower years of my life I realized that I knew the answers all along to the age old questions of life - I knew the answers since childhood.
As a child, I was simply connecting to my Higher Self and everything; I was consciously realizing the connection between myself and everything. The answers to the age old questions are child's play [so easy to answer]. As a child, adults considered my actions playing - that is what children do right? Today, I feel that to say a child is playing games may not always be the correct answer - they may simply be recognizing their connectedness to everything - to the All/God/One/Higher Self - as I did as a child. Who and what am I? I am a of the One. I am every star, every tree, every animal, every human - I am All.
This reminds me of a bible passage: 'God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM (hayah) has sent me to you.'" Ex 3.14' God is I AM. God is All. All is God. I am God. I am All. I am One. Is there a God? If so, what or who is God? All is God, God is All. God is Nature, Nature is God. I am God, God is me. God is One, One is God. We are One. Everything is One. Is there a God? Yes. If all exists then God exists. If all does not exist then God does not exist.
What happens when we die? We continue to exist in our true or pure form. Our energy [spirit] will continue to 'live' minus the physical body [humans, birds, lizards, flowers, trees, etc - all will shed the illusion of the physical form]. We go back to the first principle or the One that caused all to exist. That is, we are no longer in the human condition that everything is separate - that is an illusion - we are forever 'alive' with the One, for we are not separate from it.
What are these spiritual feelings I have? A connection to the All. It is a knowing that I am in direct link to my Higher Self or God. It is unity with everything. It is being in tune with my very nature - the nature that is in All. It is knowing that I AM is in fact me and everything - therefore I AM. In short, separateness is an illusion, everything and everyone is One. The physical world we live in creates the illusion of separation but if one looks away from the physical outside world and concentrates attention to the Higher Self/God then Oneness with All is realized.
When adults see a child playing games, they should stop the child and ask what it is doing and listen to answers to the 'hard questions in life'. Some children may answer "I am pretending to be a tree" or "I am flying like the birds" - a clue that the child is connecting with the All. I find I am satisfied with the answers I have known all along. I think it is time to make myself another cup of coffee and watch the rain fall before this brief overview becomes a book.
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My Message to the World
By Pamela Law, Ph.D.
Good evening, my brothers and sisters around the globe…it is my deepest privilege to share my message to the world with you tonight. My message is simple, yet profound: Love is the answer… No matter the question you are asking or the problem you are trying to solve. If you can reach into the deepest knowing within your amazing spirit, you already know this profound truth. This overarching belief I hold is upheld by a core foundation that we all are indeed connected soul to soul for all eternity, as brothers and sisters in life, and, therefore, are counting on one another to fulfill the ultimate purpose of our life as only we can.
Whatever your unique passion, purpose and meaning in life, you are the only one who can fulfill it, for only you can be the best you, you can be. I see your personal spark of great light and am grateful for your presence in my heart and excitedly await your gifts and service to transform our world. One of my deepest and most intimate relationships is with Jesus. In the light of Christ Consciousness, I do not believe it is my imperative to tell you who or what to believe in or how to practice your faith, but it is my deepest hope that you do find a belief and a comfort in something greater than yourself, whether you call that Being God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Holy Mother, Great Spirit, Universe or Love.
I do firmly believe that we are all called to remember that we are a beloved child of God and when each of us can firmly, faithfully grasp that, we will have transcended the grip of the ego’s greatest illusion that we are separate: separate from God and separate from each other and be able to reach out with the deepest love and gratitude to our brothers and sisters around the globe, who share this precious journey we call life, knowing that we are truly supported by a benevolent universe.
Part of our journey through life includes the experience of grief and loss. Ultimately, our loss experiences can be the greatest teachers, for what is called a crisis in our life, is really a call to transformation. No one who crosses our path does so by accident. There are no accidents. The people who share daily life with you whether it is in close or casual relationships are indeed your teachers. Make the exchange with each person an exchange of love and connection. Bless each person with the light of love that will allow us to transform our world – a world that is filled with the collective projection of our inner disharmony, pain and anguish.
We are called to sublimate the traumas of our lives – that is to transcend them, and in so doing, to transform our world. In this time of planetary peril, we are called individually and collectively to come together and expand our consciousness in our greatest challenge – healing the human condition with our unique light. As we raise our consciousness, transcend our frail egos and extend loving kindness to all we meet, our individual world and the world as we know it, will indeed transform into a space of peace and love.
Love is the healing force that enables transformation. Love calls us to love. Love with all your heart and soul, firmly believing that those you love love you. Caress your beloved. Hug your children. Befriend another. Mentor an eager learner. Reach out to your community. Come together as one. If you are lonely for love, reach out. When you give, you receive tenfold. The world is to be transformed with each act of love. We are called in each moment of our life to choose between love and fear. Choose the courage to risk love and love will be all you know. Love is all around you. Love is all there is. My prayer for you and our world is one of peace. No matter the appearance of the circumstances of your life, love is the answer. “Light of the world, shine on me, love is the answer! “
SEARCH FOR TRUTH
A search for truth Amid the dimmed and painted hauntings T’was my youth.
To view the lies In all their proof While kept from wonder’s herbs. And though all leaking light was sealed
When years were fresh And trust was free,
One tear unchained my soul From me To bathe in silent words.
Once freed from dark and laughless halls To sing and dance In greens and gold,
To feel the flower, love, unfold, An inner voice rang clear.
And in a flash of saffron glow The voice of wisdom truly rang.
“Yes, all is One is Love”, it sang, “And all in life is dear”.
A silver cord unites all life. So sure, am I, That you are me,
That peace and truth are sure to be, And we have but to wait.
Yet, every moment all things grow And every free mind thirsts to know.
Yes, seeking ever upward is man’s fate.
I AM
I am water. you may isolate me, yet source and I are one.
you may scoop me up into a golden chalice or a tattered paper cup…it matters not… I am water.
I am fire. I burn with living desire. carry me as a guiding torch.
feel my gentle heat as I scorch the veil of separation.
you may fear my power and attempt to control it, yet I burn free in every living cell.
I am fire.
I am air. I ride the currents of energy, awakening and revitalizing all that is.
I touch all things at once with invisible wings.
I remind you of the discoveries to be remembered.
I am air.
I am earth. Solid, yet shifting. I nurture your seeds of creation,
planted with your every thought and word.
I hold you to my fertile breast and nurse your growth.
you may claim to own me,
but i am your mother who birthed you forth and welcomes you back home.
I am earth.
I am water, fire, air and earth. and I am so much more.
I am the concept and the content. I am the function and the form.
I see myself in all that surrounds me I am all and I am none.
I am that I am
FREEFALL
Music is the rhythm that dances in the air.
rhythm is our soul’s beat that echoes everywhere.
It never can be caught by fingers formed of flesh.
it flows forever, freely, always pure and fresh.
We ride upon this rhythm and try to flow as one, but living free is often hard and wisely, seldom done.
So starting first with laughter mixed well with love’s the key
that can unlock most any heart sealed tight by misery.
12.00
Reflections on Sacred Symbols
by John Caris
Symbols, whether sacred or secular, pervade human culture and are frequently found in the arts. They are keys that open the door to higher consciousness, codes that winnow the kernel from the chaff, seeds that contain hidden knowledge. A symbol is like a tree with branches extending in many directions or like a neuron with dendrites spreading out. When a musical chord is played, pitches vibrate and produce a cluster of resonating overtones. The listener hears a multiplicity of sounds that have grown from only a few notes. A symbol has a basic duality, objectivity and subjectivity; simultaneously, it functions as both object and subject. Our minds experience a symbol in both roles. This paradox can be described in another way. When looking at nature, the artist sees many forms as if they were reflected in a mirror. Moving into the imaginative realm, the artist changes focus and becomes aware that actually a single form is reflected in many mirrors.
Perhaps all symbols are sacred in the sense that they connect us with a level of reality beyond our ordinary five senses. They have more than a literal level of meaning. A symbol can be sacred for one religion but not for another; it can be sacred for several religions although not understood as such by a particular group. The cross is a sacred symbol for Christians, who might not realize its sacredness for Native Americans. Something is sacred if it can link us to what we consider to be spiritual. For many, especially indigenous people, all creation is spiritual because it contains a divine spark, some aspect of divinity. And so for these people the distinction sacred and secular does not exist. All is sacred and all secular.
Those with a different set of religious beliefs might answer that the distinction is real and very important to maintain. Otherwise, pantheism would arise, the idea that the deity is in very thing, in all creation. This idea of pantheism seems be a basic principle of goddess religion and so is often challenged by patriarchal religions which separate the creator from the created.
Traditionally, the goddess has many images linked to her: cave, moon, stone, serpent, bird, fish, and tree; spiral, meander, and labyrinth; wild animals such as lion, bull, bison, stag, goat, and horse; rituals of fertility; and journey of the soul to another dimension. Whether the image is presented visually, in words, or sounds—it is sacred and assists seekers on their paths of enlightenment.
Each historical goddess has many of these characteristics and often several different ones. Isis, the greatest goddess of Egypt, was worshipped for over 3000 years. Her attributes are the tree of life, cow, serpent, pig, bird, underworld, Sirius, words of power, and great mother goddess of the universe.
According to the twentieth century scholar Marija Gimbutas, author of The Living Goddesses, the serpent crown refers back to the Neolithic snake goddess, who wore such a crown. These snake crowns symbolize wisdom and wealth. Struggling with a huge white snake will gain the seeker a crown. Wearing the crown, the initiate knows all, is able to find hidden treasures, and can communicate with animals.
In alchemy, for many a spiritual path to higher consciousness, Hermes knows that the serpent goddess is the living water, the philosophical mercury, and the white queen. To the alchemist these are sacred symbols, not just metaphors for chemicals and their laboratory processes.
Buildings are practical yet have sacred aspects. Religious structures not only contain art works but are often aligned to specific directions. Major doorways open to the east or west depending on the religious beliefs. Many Christian cathedrals in Europe are aligned on an east-west axis: the main portals face west while the apse with its window faces east so the rising sun can shine upon the altar. The duality of sacred-profane is clearly perceived here. The sun, symbolizing the deity, blesses the altar and also marks the season of the year as the sun moves along the horizon. Perhaps, we should ask, “Is the distinction between sacred and profane necessary? Isn’t the sun’s seasonal markings as spiritual as the symbol of its blessing?” The sweat lodge of Native Americans is also aligned on an east-west axis with the opening facing east. For Native Americans the placement is sacred, although ‘practical’ information can be gained.
A stone is a rock is a stone. So? The stone has been a sacred symbol for a very long time. The discussion about the stone symbol in the writing by Anne Baring and Jules Cashford, The Myth of the Goddess, is profound. A stone lasts a long time and can symbolize eternity or timelessness. During the Neolithic, or earlier, it represented the foundation or essence of life, such as the soul or spirit that endured after the death of the body. The stone is, of course, a dominant symbol in alchemy: its goal is to obtain the philosopher’s stone.
Two major symbols of religious ceremony, starting in the Neolithic age if not earlier, are the sacred marriage and birth of the child. A union with a divine spirit is inherent in all mystical ceremonies and practices. Initiation into the great spiritual mysteries has been a human activity for thousands of years, perhaps since the beginning of time. The female signifies the continuous pattern of birth-death-rebirth, which is the principle of regeneration. The male signifies the life of the individual, the short span of temporal life beginning with birth and ending with death. The neophyte enters the hidden subterranean recesses and dies a first death and only then does rebirth occur. Now the worldly and spiritual realms remain open to each other. The goddess was the portal into the hidden dimension through which the dead passed on their way to rebirth.
The dying god, a religious image originating in antiquity, symbolizes physical life that is constantly changing, and the goddess illumines the principle of life that endures by eternally renewing itself. The goddess represents continuity while the god, sharing in the impermanent essence of the seed, dies annually.
In Foundation for a New Consciousness I detail and illustrate the vesica piscis, vessel of the fish, an ancient symbol for the sacred marriage. It was used in the construction of churches. Very simply, to construct the vesica piscis, draw a circle and its diameter. Then using the diameter as a measuring unit, draw two circles whose center is at the point where the diameter and circumference of the first circle touch. A straightedge and compass are all that are needed to do these experiments.
The signs of the zodiac—those of the twelve constellations and the nine planets—are used in many disciplines besides astrology. Perhaps, the second best known is alchemy. They are also used in palmistry.
A basic idea underlying symbols and their power is the micro-macrocosm relationship. What is above is reflected in what is below, and so too what is below is like what is above. A commonality and unity, whether physical or spiritual, exist between the two. The Hindu system of chakras illustrates this bond. A chakra, literally meaning wheel, is a rotating energy field. Every human being has seven major chakras and several minor ones. Each physical chakra symbolizes a spiritual dimension and at the same time allows seekers to enter the sacred. The physical and spiritual energy that flows up the spinal column, in Western tradition Hermes’ caduceus, upon reaching the final chakra, the mystical seventh, positioned on the top of the head, becomes the thousand petaled lotus, a sacred image of the perfection of all faculties.
The great serpent spirit being is the oldest, continuously used religious symbol in the world. For Australian Aborigines this spirit being is the rainbow serpent; and it is associated with power, vibrations, water, blood, and red ochre. The serpent stands on its tail so that the shaman can travel to the sky world or underworld. In ancient Mesoamerica this spirit being was called the feathered serpent. A great python guarded the oracular shrine at Delphi, Greece, until it was defeated by Apollo, who then appropriated the oracle for his own. Apollo, however, still had to share the shrine with its previous patron Dionysus. In Jewish and Christian tradition, as evinced in the Old Testament (Isaiah 6:2), seraphim, the highest order of angels, stand above God’s throne. Few today realize that the Hebrew word for seraphim means fiery serpents! Yet in the Garden of Eden story the serpent acts as tempter, but it is not actual evil. For many cultures the serpent symbolizes birth, death, and rejuvenation.
The sleeping serpent at the spinal base is awakened, and energy slowly moves up the spinal column. When all the chakras are vitalized by this energy--and their sequence of vitalization differs according to the individual--the thousand petaled lotus unfolds and the child of light is born. Why we allow ourselves to be bound in ignorance, forsaking our heavenly gift of freedom, is the Great Cosmic Mystery.
SPIRIT GUIDES / GUARDIAN ANGELS
By Betty Jantz
Belief systems throughout the world vary as to who or what watches over us. Belief that God sends a spirit to watch over us was common in ancient Greek philosophy, and Plato alludes to it in Phaedo, 108. As early as the third millennium b.c.e., the written records of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia recognized a hierarchy of supernatural beings that ruled over various parts of the Earth, the universe, and the lives of human beings. The Mesopotamians wanted to be certain that they were well protected by their spiritual guardians, the shedu and the lamassu. The lamassus were portrayed as grotesque creatures that looked like lions or bulls with human heads and large wings and were placed as statues at the entrances of temples to ward off evil.
In Islam there are believed to be two angels or “honored writers” that guard over us, one on each shoulder. In many branches of Christianity it is believed that at birth everyone is given a guardian angel to who they can turn to in times of stress or temptation. The Christian concept of patron saints – St Christopher, for example, who is believed to protect travelers – may have developed from a belief in guardian spirits.
This might also allude to the possibility that there is more than one angel/spirit that is assigned to us. It would appear that there has been some kind of tradition of a Guardian Angel or type of Spirit Guide assigned to each individual human soul in many religions and philosophies, however, not all. Many of us at one time or another has heard of Spirit Guides and Guardian Angels, but how many of us really know who they are, what they do, or how to communicate with them? Is a spirit guide the same as a guardian angel and/or is a guardian angel the same as a spirit guide or are they separate entities?
Webster’s Dictionary starts the search to break down these terms. Webster’s defines Spirit as a supernatural being or essence. The dictionary defines a Guide “as one that leads or directs another’s way; something that provides a person with guiding information; a person who directs another’s conduct or course of life.” So we have a “supernatural being or essence that provides direction. A Guardian is defined as “one who has the care of the person or property of another; one that guards; a custodian. An Angel is defined by Webster’s as a spiritual being superior to humans in power and intelligence.
In The Angel Bible by Hazel Raven, Hazel tells us that the word came from the ancient Greek word angelos, meaning “messenger”. Here we have a spiritual messenger believed to have special care of a particular individual. In Sylvia Browne’s book, Phenomenon, a fundamental difference between these entities becomes apparent. Sylvia tells us that angels never incarnate. Angels are able to take human form to accomplish brief missions here on earth, but they have never lived a life in a human body here on earth.
Sylvia also tells us that spirits are beings who have traveled through the tunnel and made it safely to the Other Side. She also explains that Spirit Guides have experienced at least one incarnation, so they are able to empathize with the problems, mistakes, temptations, fears and frailties inevitable in the human world. The seventeenth-century mystic Amos Komensky (1592-1670) declared that each child has an angel “given to him by God and ordained to be his guardian, that (the angel) might guard him preserve him, and protect him against all dangers and snares, pits, ambushes, traps, and temptations.”
It is easy to say what Guardian Angels do but to put it into a literal sense and be able to recognize it in our daily lives is quite another story. What might we need guarding from or protection from? How might we recognize a temptation? How might we recognize when our Guardian Angel has stepped in and protected us? Perhaps the best answer to that is to really become aware of our surroundings.
So often we go about our daily lives without paying attention to what is actually going on around us. Have our lives become such a routine that we somehow are missing out on the “BIG PICTURE”? What usually comprises our daily lives does indeed include dangers and temptations. Every time we go for a ride in the car, on the bus, on the train or airplane we are at risk. How many “close calls” have there been.
Many times accidents have occurred just before our arrival or right behind us. Just recently I experienced an episode of driving on ice in bumper to bumper traffic with extremely high winds. When the wind blew my car into a skid and ultimately off the road I knew right away I was in danger and so was everyone else around me. Looking back now, however, I remember that strangely enough, at the time I began skidding, there was no car beside me and the cars behind me had increased their distance. Coincidence or was my Guardian Angel in the car with me?
For some, this incident might just appear as an accident and go on down the road. For others it would be a time to give thanks to our Guardian Angels. I am sure that if each of us stops long enough to think about it, we can become aware of incidences that perhaps it really wasn’t “dumb luck” that got us through. Sometimes “dumb luck” can happen so unconsciously that it is difficult to recognize it for what it actually is.
Choosing a different direction to get to work than what you normally take is an example. We don’t consciously know why we feel this strong urge to go a different way but we follow that urge. Upon arrival we find out on the news that something happened on our normal route that could have, at the very least, delayed us or at the most harmed us. Again, was this coincidence or a bit of ethereal help? The cool thing is that if we are aware of a degree of danger in something that we have to do, such as getting to and from work each day, we can ask for protection from our Guardian Angels.
That’s not to say that they will protect us from all reckless endangerment that we put ourselves in. We must remember to use our five senses and trust our “Higher Power and Sources” for the rest. Spirit guides can be equally elusive to our conscious awareness. They guide us everyday of our lives. Again, awareness is what is needed to recognize their presence.
I was told, by a psychic, that my spirit guide is a Shoshone Indian girl. Curious person that I am, I chose to go to the computer to see what I could find out about the Shoshone Indian tribe. Where did they reside in the United States, etc? My search revealed a very well known Shoshone girl that acted as a guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Her name was Sacagawea. Since I went into the computer with the intent of knowing more about my Spirit Guide, I concluded that this was indeed who my Spirit Guide must be.
She assists me every day with how, where and with whom my daily activities take me. Many times we have heard stories of children and their “imaginary friends”. When open minded parents have asked the children to describe these friends and what their names are it has been discovered that a grandparent or other relative that crossed over to the Other Side before the child’s birth is that “imaginary friend”. Perhaps another term for these “imaginary friends” are Spirit Guides. Our Spirit Guides are here to guide and direct us to a higher level of understanding as well as help us with specific concerns.
With this in mind, even though we might not take the advice of our guides, they offer unconditional love and do not judge us for not following their suggestions. Communication with our ethereal helpers is as easy as simply talking to them. Knowing their names is as simple as asking them. The most important thing is to listen. Some may call their answers intuition, some may call it their inner voice. Certainly there is our own logic and five senses that determines our daily decisions, but let’s not discount a bit of extra help along the way. And let’s not forget our manners…say “thank you”.
According to a poll conducted by Time magazine and published in the December 27, 1993 issue, 69% of Americans believed in the existence of angels, and 46% were certain that they had their own Guardian Angels to watch over them and to guide them. Of those men and women polled by the magazine, 32% claimed that they had personally felt the presence and/or guidance of ethereal entities in their lives; and 15% believed that the heavenly helpers who ministered to them were the benevolent spirits of humans who had died, rather than higher spiritual beings with special powers.
A similar poll conducted by Self magazine for its December 1997 issue found that 87% of readers believed in angels. It is welcome knowledge to know that we don’t have to think or feel that we must face our lives and everything that comes into it alone. Once we become aware of the presence of our Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides (we can have more than one of each) they are ecstatic that we know of them. It is with total love that they assist us in our everyday lives.
When our Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides appear to us, what is actually happening is that we are allowing ourselves to become more receptive to their presence. They are always with us, 24/7 without exception. They never engender fear, anxiety, insecurity, or other discomforting emotions. Their glow of love for us and care is their calling card. Their presence will elicit feelings of acceptance, warmth, comfort, a sense of peace and always love. Some believe that the same Guardian Angel and Spirit Guide are with us throughout our lifetime.
Others believe that as circumstances change in our lives so does the Guardian Angel and Spirit Guide. That many ethereal beings may be assigned to certain tasks, to help us with, is certainly open for debate. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt for us to check in on our awareness on a regular basis. We just might find out that there is a multitude of loving help out there whether we remember to ask for it or not.
TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD OF LIFE
by Amanda Taylor
There are many roads to take in life. Which road we take can have catastrophic repercussions or amazing results can ensue. Other decisions we make can produce circumstances where we will never be the same. It can be that we have advanced to a level where there is no turning back. Sometimes we can fall back and end up having to make up the time to catch up to where we should be.
I have gone down many roads in my life. The most recent steps that I have taken over the past four years have lead to some amazing outcomes. I have made decisions, some unconsciously, where I can no longer go back to my old ways. I have made decisions that have affected me physically, emotionally, mentally and especially spiritually. I have grown as a person to understanding who I truly am and where I am going. I don’t yet know the destination, but am receiving directions and reading the signs as I go along. I know I am heading in the right direction.
In the past, some of the roads that I took had been going the Wrong Way; others were down a One Way Street and I couldn’t turn back - I had to go to the end of the street before I could begin again. Other times I ran a Red Light instead of waiting for the Green Light.
Along the way, I have begun to hear the voice of my inner navigation system; let’s call it my personal GPS (Global Positioning Spirit). This Spirit, my Higher Self, connected to the Divine, has taken me to places I never imagined. In the past, more times than I care to share, I have ignored my GPS and have taken the long road to a short destination. The path would have been shorter, smoother and more pleasant had I just obeyed the voice. In the past, I had the problem of not being able to distinguish my ego from my Higher Self.
Even though I had ignored the directions given to me, and had suffered the consequences, I have learned a great deal. And, in a way, I am grateful for some of the rocky roads and tumultuous weather. As humans, we feel we have to learn “things the hard way” in order to learn anything at all. Some may agree that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. This may be true in a sense. Sometimes we don’t really hear or pay attention unless something big is dropped on us. We don’t pay attention until the car breaks down in the middle of the desert and we have to learn to fend for ourselves.
But to me, at a certain point in your life, you’ve got to figure out how to gain control of your own existence. You just can’t go wandering down every road hoping by chance it will take you where you need to go. We’ve got to learn to listen to that voice and follow the directions of our GPS so that our travels will be lighter and freer.
Now, that’s not to say that all will be smooth and quiet. Even when we persistently follow the directions and read the signs, there may be a flat tire or two. But we will be prepared to “fix” these occurrences without totaling breaking down and giving up. We know there are things that occur to slow us down or to turn us around to another state of advancement. I truly believe that there is such thing a Divine Delay. We sometimes get ahead of ourselves thinking we know what is best for us. The Universe knows and sees all. So what we see as perfect may not be the best for us in the end.
Okay, enough of the analogies.
At a certain point, we have to realize who we are and where we are going. It is so easy to do as some religions do and put our lives in God’s hands and say it was His Will when things go wrong or have a negative outcome. We want to put the blame on someone else when things don’t go as planned. We can no longer shift the blame to God or say it’s God’s Will. We have to take control and responsibility for our own lives. We are the creators of our own life backed by the Creative force. Our Higher Selves are directly connected to this Creative force and provides us with the information we need to live in this human existence.
I am very grateful for some of the trials that I have had to go through to get to this point. Because without some of those wake up calls, I would not be in the place I am now. But now I am in another phase of my life. I am ready to follow the directions of that still, sweet voice and stay on the path that I need to travel for this lifetime. Since I have made a conscious decision to be open to follow this path, my connection with my Higher Self is stronger and better than ever. I have always heard and felt the direction of my Higher Self, albeit a faint voice. But at times had chosen to ignore it because I was either unsure of whether it was my ego talking or I thought I knew better. I didn’t realize how wrong it was for me to ignore such a helpful, guiding presence.
I do realize the difference between the ego talking and the voice of my Higher Self. The Ego can be very critical, demanding and degrading. The Higher Self only wants to help, nourish and guide. Even when the Higher Self is telling me to not do something, it is in a manner that is gentle and soothing.
I do realize that my life will never be perfect. I don’t think there is a need for perfection among spiritual beings in a human existence. Perfection is not the key, but love and communication are what we need to move on. There are life lessons to be learned along the way. I have had some negative occurrences in my life that have allowed me to see the real reason why they did happen. With the knowledge and wisdom that I have gained, when negative things happen or an unbalanced situation occurs, I am able to step back and look at it for what it is. I can dissect the situation and figure out why it happ
ened. Certain dis-eases or dis-comforts that happen in our bodies are a direct result of how we handle situations and circumstances. One particular occurrence stands out in my mind. I had a rather unpleasant marriage; we just couldn’t seem to communication effectively. I held back a lot of what I really wanted to say because I knew he wouldn’t listen to me. As a result of me holding back communication, I developed TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) issues. I could not open my mouth to bite into a sandwich. I had pain when brushing my teeth; yawning; etc. It was painful for me to open my mouth! How’s that for mental and emotional issues manifesting to the physical?!
It was not until years later after delving into metaphysical and occult sciences that I learned the connection between the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. I have looked back on past occurrences and been able to see the cause of the problems I was having; whether they be physical manifestations or emotional issues surrounding relationships, etc. Now if there are situations that come up, I try and find the cause/root of the symptoms, so that I can cure that particular situation.
As spiritual beings, we are able to change matter, situations and circumstances. If we put love into any situation, we too can change that situation. We can change the health of our bodies, mind, finances, mental and emotional facilities.
A profound thing happened to me after I had to have emergency surgery two years ago. I didn’t like the fact that I had to have certain drugs injected before and after surgery. I was on morphine for one whole day. I couldn’t sleep and I felt totally “out of it”. When I went home, I was prescribed these strong pain medications. I took them for two days. I didn’t like the way I felt. I had no desire to read. My attention span was short and I felt groggy day and night. I then decided to use what I had learned.
I started implementing the breathing techniques that I read so much about. I was able to use those breathing and visualization techniques to diminish the amount of pain. And after a few days eliminate the pain altogether while laying still. My body seemed to heal rather quickly and I was moving about with greater ease, albeit slowly. Because we are extensions of the Great Source, we are able to do anything.
We are all one in universal consciousness. We are all rays of the Sun; waves in the ocean. That great energy from the Source is also given to us as spiritual beings residing in our human vessels. As we go along our designated path, we need a close connection with that Source and with one another. We have the ability to do so many things. Some may call these things extraordinary, supernatural or a miracle, but what we are able to accomplish on a daily basis – as extensions of the Creator – are normal.
So as we travel down the road of life, it is paramount that we love one another despite our various personalities and egoistic failings. Our love can permeate all negative feelings, emotions, and situations. Effective communication with one another and with the Universal Life Force/Creator through our Higher Selves is absolutely necessary.
We all have the ability to do great things. We are creators and gods. We have the ability to travel down the road of life with great integrity, love, happiness and joy. This journey of life can be such a great experience. We can learn so much and give so much. These are exciting times as more people are waking up to their potential as gods and goddesses. I am looking forward to this new age of discovery and love.
Namaste