David Cumes Surgeon/Sangoma (Zulu for Shaman)

GRIEF & SPIRITUAL
TRANSFORMATION # 5

TURNING CRISIS INTO OPPORTUNITY

There are several things we can do to weather the storm when grief comes our way.

We should always try to remember that this too will pass and ...

"No matter how long the night the dawn is sure to come." African Proverb

also

"If you don't want to see the shadow turn your face to the sun." Aboriginal saying.

The Ancestors recommend that at the same time we embrace light, love and laughter - anything with a high vibration.

In every crisis there is opportunity - sometimes the bigger the crisis the more the grist for the "mill" of change and

the bigger the shadow the more the light that is behind it.

No matter how catastrophic things may be we are always able to "change the channel" in that moment;

spiritual practice, a walk on the beach or in nature, a chat or visit with a good friend, a funny movie or just seeing someone much less fortunate than we are.

We can imagine our lives as being like paddling our small kaiak down the river of life between the bank of happiness and joy and that of pain and suffering. Our task is retain equanimity, harmony and balance by staying in mid stream.

If we bump into the bank of joy we should enjoy the moment realizing that it more than likely will never be repeated. We should remain unattached and remember Harrison Owens' laws of non attachment;

"Whoever was meant to be there was there

The time it began was the time it was meant to begin

Whatever happens was supposed to happen

But,

When its over its over"

If we bump into the bank of pain we should not tarry, set up camp and have a pity party but move back into the middle of the stream with any or all methods employable.

The Buddhism teaches that we should take our suffering and make something useful out of it. By helping others we forget our own pain and with gratitude we can find harmony and happiness again.

We can turn the crap into manure - the more crap there is, the more the potential for radical change.

Dave Cumes

The Great Spirit does not micromanage, karma is built as a default into the soul. We are all eventually accountable for our misdeeds. If we have been wronged we should not assume someone has "gotten away with it." There will be dues to be paid and if anything it should lead to compassion - although this is usually difficult. Everything we do is recorded in the Akashic records or the Book of Life. When we do great things with our challenges in life we are applauded from the other side of the veil between worlds even if we cannot hear it.

Shakti Gawin said;

"The universe will reward you for taking risks on it's behalf,"

if not sooner then later or much later.

It's not what happens to us that counts but what we do with it. When we do bad things it is also recorded in perpetuity.

Those that are dealt a challenging set of cards in life and a less than optimal fate - if they can rise above it - will be more spiritually powerful than those who have not.

The Ancestors

In the play of light and dark, good and evil lies the potential for spiritual transformation. If not for this polarity everything would be like spiritual diabetes. We would lose the dynamic for spiritual perfection. These test of our spiritual metal can help us become spiritual warriors - even "Marines" or "Special Forces."

"People are like tea bags, you only know how strong they are when you put them in hot water." Anon.