It has become my truth that everything that happens in my life is meant to be. This does not mean that some outer power is controlling my life, for I believe that, at a soul (or spirit) level, I designed a blueprint for my life. The major events and influential people I would meet, were agreed upon before incarnating. Details were left for free will. And because I made the choices about what I wanted for this life, my higher power (whether you call it higher self, guardian angel, God, or any other term) will attempt to guide me to fulfill those choices. This guidance will come in many different ways, from dreams, from 'intuition', from illness or injury (which carry a hint about where I've strayed from my chosen course,) from people who contact me, etc.
Another word about illness and injury. Not always do these occur to give hints about where I'm off-course or out of alignment. Some are chosen just for the experience of them in physical life, others are agreed upon prior to incarnation as a karmic balance. In the case of terminal illness or fatal injury, this was pre-chosen as the way 'out' of the physical experience. I do not believe in accidents -- every stubbed toe, every cough or sniffle, every 'chance' encounter has a meaning, a purpose, a message.
For a long time I used to demand of my inner source during meditation that I be told of my path, my purpose. I was frustrated because I didn't seem to be getting any answer, even though I firmly believed "ask and you shall receive, knock and it will be opened to you." Finally, I was told that, first the hope had been that I would figure it out for myself, and second, that there is no path! Then my inner source sort of corrected itself and stated that, more accurately, all is the path -- I could choose to wander about, bumping into things, or I could listen to my inner guidance and proceed straight to where I was going. But either way, I could not get off the 'path', I would always get to my destination.
As I said on the first page of One Light, my primary belief (my fundamental truth) is that all is one -- we are all one. All matter is energy, our souls are this same energy, and the source of this energy is what most of us call God (we are made in his likeness: 'And God went on to say: "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness..." And God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God's image he created him; male and female he created them.' -- Gen. 1:26-27) (NOTE: Since male and female were simultaneously created, I cannot take the story of Adam and Eve literally.) In Genesis we are also told that God separated the Light into lightness and darkness (Gen. 1:4.) This must be so in a duality, such as exists in the third dimension. God is Light, God is Love and so man, in his true essence is Light and Love also. However, in a duality, he can choose to experience his essence as darkness and fear.
This leads to another of my truths (what is true for me -- no one else has to believe it!) I believe that there are only two ways of being: 1) in love, 2) in fear. All the other so-called negative emotions (hate, anger, sadness, envy, jealousy, etc.) are rooted in fear, which is based on the belief that we are separate, that we're alone 'out there'. If we truly believe we are one with each other, truly know we are one with God/All That Is/Spirit, we would never be angry that 'another' wasn't behaving as we wanted, or jealous of 'another's' possessions, or envious of 'another's' accomplishments, or sad over a loss...
We hear quite a bit about the Law of Karma, or what goes around comes around, or that we reap what we sow, or that for every cause there's an effect. I believe that is true, but only to a point. As long as one remains unaware, allowing life to happen to one, the Law of Karma will prevail. I'm puzzled why we hear so much about Karma, and almost nothing about Grace, or forgiveness. The Law of Grace supercedes the Law of Karma, just as Light supercedes Darkness -- where there is light, darkness cannot exist; when Grace is invoked, Karma cannot exist. When one regrets a thought, action or deed and asks for forgiveness, it is granted instantaneously. Isn't that comforting?! (Note: I am obviously referring here to 'negative Karma', and not all karma is negative -- positive thoughts and deeds also come back to us as a positive effect. But, even so, I personally would rather live under the Law of Grace, where there are no reactions at all, where I don't react to others, to situations, to ideas, to thoughts, but always act from my heart, my center.) Please help me to make the knowledge of the Law of Grace as wide-spread as the Law of Karma.
One of the most difficult concepts for me to believe was that the world's not broken and doesn't need to be fixed. Living here certainly makes it difficult to believe that this is a true statement. Yet I have come to believe it.
This does not mean that one should sit back and not attempt to make any changes, for the changes are part of the plan! Well, jeesh, how is one to decide what to change?! Joseph Campbell put it beautifully when he said, "Follow your bliss." Put another way, follow your passion. Whatever is closest to your heart is what you are to do, whether it's your means of support, or your 'cause', or anything in between. Again, this does not mean that anything is 'broken' or wrong, for that would imply judgment. When you find yourself wanting to do something, stop and check within yourself -- is it something that truly feels right, or just something you think you should do. Follow through if it's the first, let it go if it's the latter.
I feel that it's important to emphasize that making changes does not mean that something was wrong. As I said, changes are part of the plan, so what existed before the change was not wrong but, at least in part, was there so the change could occur. If one sees something as needing change, one is judging and creating disharmony. But if one follows one's heart, the guidance from within, the change occurs easily and harmoniously because one is aligned with the Light (or Higher Self, or God....)
On a personal level, if something happens in your own experience, and you feel strongly about it, there is probably something that you are to be doing about it. This could be absolutely anything: breaking up a fight you witness, lending a helping hand where needed, going for that job interview you just 'happened' to hear about, etc., etc. Always check within to make certain that whatever you're contemplating doing is, in fact, for you to do. You never want to impose your will on another, thereby attempting to deprive that one of free will -- which is exactly what occurs when you 'butt' in just because you want to. Your inner guidance will always give you your truth, if you can just learn to hear that still, small voice -- and trust it.
On a bigger-than-personal level, it's a little more complicated, but not much. The same criteria hold true for causes as for things in your every day life. If your heart's passion is saving the forests, find a way to get involved in that effort. But don't do it just because you heard on the news that our forests are dwindling and that's causing worldwide problems and you think you should do something about it. 'Shoulding' all over yourself is not the best way to live!
My passion for a while was working for World Peace, and it was very fulfilling as long as it was truly my passion. But one day in meditation, my inner source helped me to grasp an even bigger concept. As long as we believe the reality of the third dimension, peace is not possible! The only way to experience peace is by knowing the oneness of all. For in the material or physical world, because of its very nature (duality or polarity,) peace and conflict both will always exist. As long as humanity sees 'otherness', struggles will occur -- due to greed, envy, lust, anger, etc. Once all of mankind can truly love one another, once humanity truly feels the truth of oneness, we will no longer experience physicality/materiality -- ascension will be instantaneous.
If any of what I've written seems like too much work -- all that looking within and trying to figure out meanings, messages, purposes -- there's a very simple, though not necessarily easy, solution. Turn your life over to higher power (God, Jesus, higher self, Universe, Allah, or whatever you're comfortable calling 'it' -- 'it' doesn't care what you call it, it knows who it is and what you mean!)* I can't begin to describe how freeing this is. I now know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my life is spiritually directed in every moment. It is almost second nature to see the divinity in 'others', to know I am one with them, and to unconditionally love. I am loved beyond my wildest hopes and dreams, cared for and provided for in every moment of my life with more abundance than all my little strugglings ever produced. Yes, there are times when I face challenges, but only when I attempt to take back the reins. Just as soon as I catch myself and say something like, 'I surrender, please take my burden, I trust that what is best for all concerned is what will occur', a feeling of lightness and joy comes over me, and I once again experience harmony in my life. I'm aware that the Light is here and I am able to know all of its blessings in my life.
Until this occurred, it was difficult for me to love others unconditionally. I confused unconditional/spiritual love, with physical love and thought I had to hug everyone and want them in my life. Believe me, this is not true! Unconditional love means seeing and loving the true being within the physical cloak. It does not mean liking the physically manifested form. It is perfectly okay and 'spiritual' to dislike a person and to not want him/her in your experience. (Actually, it's not the person you dislike, but his/her ideas/ideals and/or actions.) What's important is to accept that person as being right for him/herself and to allow them to be as they are (unless, of course, you are asked for your opinion.) What a wonderfully freeing way of being!
May you also know all the blessings of the Light (the peace, joy, beauty, harmony, serenity, abundance, truth and Love) in every moment of your life.
Namaste**,
*NOTE: 'Higher Power' is not something separate from you -- you are part of it. I think it's important to emphasize this so no one feels they are giving control of his/her life to another, becoming somewhat of a puppet. This is far from the truth. 'Higher Power' will simply guide you to experience and accomplish what you wanted in this life.
**Namaste is a Sanskrit term. I've heard several translations, but they
mean basically the same thing. My favorite is, "I honor the place in our hearts where we are one." Another is, "The divine in me recognizes and honors the divine in you."
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