tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10785679499028027942024-03-19T01:47:57.005-07:00David Cumes Surgeon/Sangoma (Zulu for Shaman)davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.comBlogger490125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-58201875606539083612024-03-16T05:52:00.000-07:002024-03-16T05:52:27.465-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>ENERGY AND VIBRATION - MORE ESOTERIC AFFECTS (B)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">PARANORMAL ABILITIES </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b>Synchronicity</b></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Jung first described this phenomenon. Simply speaking this occurs when an inner, mind event corresponds to an outer event. For example one is thinking of a good friend from college whom one has not seen in many years and the phone rings with him or her on the line. This arises because of a strong emotional bond between the two. It is not coincidental but is a result of the receiver picking up psychically on the intention to call.</span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Alternatively it may be scripted by the "Field" or one's guides.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b> </b>For instance one may be looking under "Spirituality" in a bookstore and the right one almost jumps off the shelf by managing to get your attention in some way.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Coherence </b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;">Was first brought into the limelight by the Maharishi. The Maharishi university claimed that when a critical number of people in a city meditated, the crime rate would drop. We know that coherence occurs during group meditations where the sum of the parts is great than the whole. Coherence around a person or a group does spread beyond the immediate environment and can even affect the supernal realms. Indigenous peoples understand the power of coherence since rituals are often done in community - it takes a village. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Religious communities who meet in churches, temples, mosques and synagogues can create coherence. Prayers for peace or rain may be more effective than skeptics allow.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;">The Heart Math Institute have show that when there is coherence due to a parasympathetic nervous system "relaxation" response, the Heart Rate Variability stabilizes. The heart appears to be a "spiritual" organ having more output and affects going to the brain than input from it. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Super-fluidity (being in the “Zone”) </b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;">This is when events that may be quite complex proceed and unfold perfectly on their own accord for no apparent reason. Competitive athletes strive to get into this zone for their performance. It seems that that some mystical power from "Field" is conspiring to assist the event.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><b>More advanced Paranormal Abilities include:</b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b>Precognition, Telepathy </span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;">Telekinesis </span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Clair/</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;">voiance</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">/audience/sentience <br />Remote Viewing or Distant Diagnosis, Distant Healing <br />Connecting with Field, spirit guides, dreams <br />and trance-channeling </span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Telekinesis is the ability of someone to move objects psychically. That someone is not really doing the job. The result is coming through the diviner's guide/s or another "Field" effect. The rod itself may point correctly but has no power rested within it and nor does the diviner without the Field. </span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">"Whatever being </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><i>comes</i></span><i style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> to be, be it motionless or moving, derives its being from Field and Knower of the Field. Know this." </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bhagavad Gita</span></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Remote or distant viewing has been studied by the the Russians, the C.I.A. and Stanford University and found to be evidential. Someone talented in this ability can be placed in a lead chamber without any influence from the outside world and a volunteer sent to a place with features that would be easy for anyone to describe. The remote viewers were found to be incredibly accurate in their descriptions. </span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Distant diagnosis occurs through a similar mechanism through a skilled psychic, shaman, medical intuitive or others.</span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There are numerous double blind studies showing that distant healing works even when placebo is discounted and the sick person does not know that healing has been administered. The effect is so significant that if it could be marketed as a pill it would be negligent not to administer it. </span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span><span>Everyone's gift will be unique so that we should not strive to replicate those of others but honor our own and develop them, even if they seem less masterful and compelling. No single person will have all or many of these abilities. We need to acknowledge and practice our strengths - e</span></span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: left;">ach to his/her own. Clair-sentience is common to many. If we ignore that feeling, whether its a feeling in the gut, shivers running up the spine, hair standing on end, goose (or truth) bumps or anything else we may do so at our peril. These primal experiences are still with us to keep us safe. Never override them with one's intellect. The same can be true for warning dreams, whether coming from the </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: left;">subconscious, the</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: left;"> Field or scripted by our guides.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-31626019752650858972024-03-09T05:42:00.000-08:002024-03-09T05:42:27.852-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>ENERGY SYSTEMS - THE </b><b>EFFECTS OF MASTERY (A)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">These maps to spirit give us an idea as to where we have been, where we are now and where we want to go.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">Each experience is a moment between moments, a dancing in the mystery of the void<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">…. where one encounters the Source of power.</span></i></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">In a prior blog we talked about the Oneness Experience or Unity Consciousness and how it resembles Maslow's Peak Experience. In addition there are others effects that indicate we are attaining some degree of mastery.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>KUNDALINI'S POTENTIAL</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span style="color: #800180;">Apart from these phenomena mentioned in the prior blog; (h</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: left;">eat, vibrational energy, creeping sensations, tingling - usually rising up the spine, light experiences, inner sounds, smells, an empty mind, transcendence, being transported beyond oneself, feelings of intense love, empathy, compassion, out of body experiences, </span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: left;">spontaneous movements, paranormal powers, paralysis, falling</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: left;">, </span><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: left;">shamanic states, connecting with spirit guides or ancestors et al ...) There also may be:</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"> </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Becoming, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Self Realization/Enlightenment.</span></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span face="-webkit-standard" style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the yogi or others committed to spiritual transformation </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span>Self-</span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span>realization, Enlightenment or Becoming (a term the Ancestors prefer) </span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span>is of major import.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>Initiation.</b> </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">This especially applies to shamanic rites of passage. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">In indigenous communities the energy is channeled for initiation of the </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;"><span>shaman with </span></span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">the use </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">of </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;"><span>entheogens</span> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">(especially in the Americas) or </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;">with drumming and dancing (especially in sub </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">saharan Africa.) </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>Magical powers.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180;">Magical abilities including </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">control of fire (tha</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;">t goes beyond fire </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">walking) and shape shifting </span>are usually unique to shamans in </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180;">indigenous </span></span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180;">cultures and Eastern adepts</span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">Some </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">Westerners have also mastered these abilities. These also include </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">trance </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180;">states, trance-channelling and out of body experiences</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180;"><b>Healing States </b></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;"><b>and Spontaneous Remission of Disease.</b> </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;"><span>The Inner </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">Healer is part of the soul and has incredible capabilities. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;">The more we connect with the Creator, the</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">Higher Self </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">as well as faith, belief, trust and surrender the more we </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">empower </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">t</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">he Inner </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">Healer </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">and subordinate the fear that sabotages the </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">miracle of healing. Even spontaneous remission of diseases that </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">have </span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">defied the best </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;">of what Western medicine has to offer, is possible.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Shaktipat.</b> </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> is the ability of a </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">guru or </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">a spiritual avatar to mobilize the </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kundalini by imparting it to the student, usually with touch. </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Shaktipat </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">is a process where, through grace, a guru can transfer this </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">energy and vibration</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;"> to</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;"> a devotee who is ready. This </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">cannot be imposed by </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">force nor can the receiver make it happen. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">San Bushmen <span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">healers</span> were </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">said to shoot </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">"invisible arrows" into an initiate having difficulty </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">breaking into the trance state to help them attain out of body spirit </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">flight. Their process may be </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;">similar to Shaktipat.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><b>"Psychosis."</b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-align: start;"> Spiritual crisis can occur with the radical, uncontrollable, movement of </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: start;">Kundalini in the body. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">This mislabelled "psychosis" is a serious side </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">effect </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">of </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">Kundalini energy overwhelming a spiritual neophyte </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;"><span>or</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;"> others that have no </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">guidance about how to </span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">recognize and </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">handle </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">this calamity.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"> </span>Lee Sannella, a psychiatrist, wrote a book on the Kundalini </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Experience </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: start; text-indent: 0in;">showing how its misdiagnosis could lead not only to</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">ineffectiveness but the abortion of a vital spiritual process</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: start; text-indent: 0in;">,</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: start; text-indent: 0in;">as well as the side effect from</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: start; text-indent: 0in;"> anti-psychotic </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: start; text-indent: 0in;"><span>drugs.</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">Time, space and matter comprise our physical universe and the source of power lies beyond the material, beyond time, space and matter.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>OTHER EMPOWERMENTS RELATED TO MOVING KUNDALINI</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"Out there beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there </i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">is </i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0in;">a Field. I will meet you there." </i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">Rumi</span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180;"> </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">In addition to Self-Realization or "</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Becoming" (a term the </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">Ancestors prefer) </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">some other phenomena</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">just short of this advanced state include;</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> Being, Awareness and Awakening,</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">contact with the “Field” and receiving downloads from spirit while </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180;">awake or asleep</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0in;">.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">More intimacy with the Self/Soul, one's </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">destiny as well as contact with one's guides especially in dreams.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;">The strengthening of Faith, Belief, Hope, Trust and Surrender.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">When we open our heart chakras and embrace c</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">ompassion </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; text-align: left;">and empathy a natural consequence is developing more </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">forgiveness, g</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">ratitude, happiness and meaning in our lives.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;">In other words ...</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;">As our</span><span style="font-size: large;"> practice deepens, we rise up the Tree of Life or the chakra hierarchy and our transformation increases as follows. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Initially we temper our fears and our lower survival, energy centers. Next, we begin to experience increasing levels of humility as we subordinate ego and become non-attached to the material and the grooming of the persona with "stuff." </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Then we encompass more love and have the ability to see the divine in others as we open our hearts. We "Sweeten" our judgments and when we judge, we judge the action and not the person.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eventually we become more truly expressive of our real Selves and whichever core strength we possess. We get in touch with this </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">signature </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">strength</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">, or better still our true destiny path given to us by the Creator.</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just below the crown we subordinate doubt, denial, cynicism, resignation, detachment and hopelessness to hope, faith, belief, trust and surrender and even develop a personal connection with the Infinite One. W</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">e may also develop more intuitive powers from opening the Third Eye or the </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;">sephira</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri;"> of Wisdom.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">Walk the path with awareness of both the something and the nothing, of the realm of what is sensed and known and the realm of what is neither sensed nor known.<br /><br />Each experience of this awareness is a moment between moments, a dancing in the mystery of the void….where one encounters the Source of pow</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">er.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; unicode-bidi: embed; white-space: normal; word-break: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"></span></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-54124754312992906822024-02-24T04:57:00.000-08:002024-02-28T12:10:30.159-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">ENERGY SYSTEMS - ANCIENT MAPS TO THE SELF #3</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">It is best to review the last blog before reading this one.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><b>PATANJALI'S SHEATHS OF CONSCIOUSNESS</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1J6d_vQpa6Sfg2Iwzgj3isG3QLS4hZ6Awg2BnEHwWeiJqBQNK9bp3kFSSilEkK3kD66e878tVEzDVH0znS9OqVN-SQZkywj2u6VPWj5BB-yDair9ZOrhcj5tMi93skN0D6ftqKNjGGyK5JHBacbw4hnA3qhH77cMiAr-uOIYeKGYevnYJ75Y_Ql7t3o/s1514/ENERGY%204.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1514" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1J6d_vQpa6Sfg2Iwzgj3isG3QLS4hZ6Awg2BnEHwWeiJqBQNK9bp3kFSSilEkK3kD66e878tVEzDVH0znS9OqVN-SQZkywj2u6VPWj5BB-yDair9ZOrhcj5tMi93skN0D6ftqKNjGGyK5JHBacbw4hnA3qhH77cMiAr-uOIYeKGYevnYJ75Y_Ql7t3o/w640-h608/ENERGY%204.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Patanjali described Five Energy Sheaths which compliment our understandings of how we transcend. They help to complete the chakra model. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Food or Body Sheath speaks for itself. It behooves us to maintain this to the best of our body's ability. It is a gift to be in a sentient body. This is why the Ancestors stress sensory driven meditations. We are here to enjoy - but responsibly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Energy Sheath is key to moving Kundalini or increasing our vibration with meditation, yoga postures (asanas) and breath meditation (pranayama) or any inner practice.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">The Mind Sheath or Monkey Mind (Narrow Mind) is our primitive mind that neuroscience with F.M.R.I. studies has shown to be localized in the primitive brain. It is linked to our survival, fight or flight response and the sympathetic nervous system. Nothing creative occurs here. Monkey Mind dominates - even more than it does in most of us - especially in those with anxiety, depression, O.C.D. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">P.T.S.D</span><span style="color: #800180;">. and other psychological or emotional imbalances. The only way to tame the Monkey chattering messages of suffering sitting on our shoulders is with spiritual practice. This sheath harbors our primitive emotions and fear - fight or flight and even freeze (panic disorders) and feigning death (in animals.) </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Monkey Mind is the source of our unskillful emotions such as; desires, compulsions, habits (procedural memory) and minor as well as major addictions.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><i><b>We are entitled to our feelings but responsible for their expression</b></i> (our emotions.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Monkey Mind and fear can also induce the toxic emotions of anger, hatred, malice, envy and the desire for vengeance and retribution. These operate in conjunction with our shadow or evil inclination.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Most of us default to Monkey Mind unless we have a regular inner practice.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Golden verses of Pythagoras speak of storms coming and going. </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">The wise person like the good sailor knows how to rid them. </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Know your weaknesses and inclinations that you can temper them with your strength." </span><span>Anonymous</span><span>.</span></span></p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Intellectual Sheath, (Spacious Mind, Buddha Mind, Christ Consciousness or Big Mind) has been shown in F.M.R.I. studies to reside in the prefrontal lobe. Advanced meditators tend to have a greater neuronal density and activity here and default more easily to Big Mind during or more quickly after stress. The Intellectual Sheath is connected to the Causal body and is the source of our creativity as well as; our beliefs, concepts, notions, ideas, ideals, aspirations, discriminations and discernments. This sheath connects us to our parasympathetic, relaxation response which can allow access to love, the Field, our guides, ancestors, dreams and the Creator.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This sheath allows control over our feelings. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There are only two feelings love and fear. Spiritual practitioners are more easily able to identify when fear is operating and handle it by subordinating it to love. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>Emotions run high </span><span>- </span><span>feelings run deep.<br /></span><span>Emotions require discipline.</span><span><br /></span><span>Feelings require nurturing. </span></i></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>The better one controls emotions the more one can </span><span>express feelings.</span></i></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span><span>According to Patanjali the Mind Sheath, the Intellectual Sheath and the Ego form a triad which is always in flux. Usually, and especially under stress,</span></span></span><span style="color: #800180;"><span> <span>Monkey Mind and Ego dominate</span>. </span></span><span style="color: #800180;">This triad has been called the Subtle body. This triad is necessary to keep us safe in tricky situations but otherwise should be put on hold by the Intellectual sheath (Spacious </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">Mind.) This sheath is linked to the Causal body.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Its important to realize that <b style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">S</b>elf-condemnation and recrimination (as in the Higher Self) can put the system in lockdown mode, limiting access to the prefrontal love and love. Shame, which is a crippling emotional force can do the same. Remorse and regret are feeling bad about what we did, shame is feeling bad about who we are. Guilt can lie somewhere in-between depending on how severe it is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">" </i><i>Self-condemnation strengthens guilt and is one of the greatest </i></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><i style="font-weight: bold;">impediments on the path of Self-realization." </i>Yoga wisdom</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Intellectual sheath is put on hold when we fail to move our energy from the lower, survival chakras into the upper, growth chakras above the diaphragm and when we reside in the lower chakras.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When our Intellectual Sheath dominates we are able to access the Causal body. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Meditation, yoga asanas and pranayama help us to get there by increasing our vibration, enhancing the Energy Sheath and subordinating Ego and Monkey Mind. Spiritual knowledge and awareness can </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">also </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">help keep them in check so that we can realize <b>S</b>elf.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">With all your strength get spiritual knowledge!</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">"Store Consciousness" is the "soulular" memory of our past lives - good or bad - which resides in our subconscious. These are the </span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">skeletons </span></span><span style="color: #800180;">(</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">or blessings) </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">in the closet of our past life experiences which also determine whether we move into the Subtle or the Causal body. When the negative ones come out of the closet, they too are managed by spiritual practice.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In the center of the model is the Sheath of Bliss where the Higher Self resides. Bliss, ecstasy and oneness can be realized when we are able to move our Kundalini, feminine, Shakti, energy into the Crown chakra where it can unite with the masculine, Shiva, to attain Unity Consciousness. This is not easy and unless we are advanced practitioners, usually comes only fleetingly by grace; when the Knower, the Known and the process of knowing fuse and become one thing.</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our task is to prime the frontal lobe with inner practice and subordinate Ego to the Higher Self and Monkey (Narrrow) Mind to Intellectual Sheath (Spacious Mind) so that we can attain equanimity, harmony, serenity, inner peace or balance.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"></span></span></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-84067593546405708342024-02-18T05:01:00.001-08:002024-02-18T05:01:56.321-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; line-height: 14.4px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">ENERGY SYSTEMS - ANCIENT MAPS TO THE SELF #2</span></p><div><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Moving Kundalini is to enhance one's vibration. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #800180;">The San Bushmen, hunter-gatherers, </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">as shown in genomic studies,</span><span style="color: #800180;"> <span>were the first people. The original manifestation of Yoga </span></span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">Kundalini or "Num" </span><span style="color: #800180;">arose out of the </span><span style="color: #800180;">nature bound experience in Africa. There is 28,000 year old rock art from the Apollo cave in Namibia showing trance dancing and shape shifting.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>“</span><span>Wilderness holds the answers to questions we do not yet know how to ask.” </span></span></span><span><span style="font-size: large;">David Brower</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Nature hides her secrets with consummate modesty and speaks usually in an unintelligible tongue.” </span><span>Charles Huggins</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This sketch of a rock art figure shows this vibrational "Num" rising up the body of a San Bushman trance dancer. This allows the spirit to leave the body and travel into the Field where s/he can obtain information not localized in space and time. This power has allowed these fascinating people to hunt, gather and heal for millennia. San healers are renowned for their healing power and their hunters for their tracking and hunting expertise. Some do not have to look at the tracks to find their prey. <i>"We put on animal mind as see where they are going..." </i></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKB32uJuHc2xnbQXincNccMtBQD5tIZSuZQS_P6RhVvT6v6bnT10pFyuM62UfxfxqILrJrzrPQqK7-1EPD438Z9l6HGWe6EwIFrJlj_AMhE4YSLG7fyG4juLVydwTqrIHEhVWqJ8rmG5mey0eX0qyyrvXK2KjAExXD8kw4U3vW6FlnsJdRONbboSXLKI/s1082/ENERGY%205.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="896" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKB32uJuHc2xnbQXincNccMtBQD5tIZSuZQS_P6RhVvT6v6bnT10pFyuM62UfxfxqILrJrzrPQqK7-1EPD438Z9l6HGWe6EwIFrJlj_AMhE4YSLG7fyG4juLVydwTqrIHEhVWqJ8rmG5mey0eX0qyyrvXK2KjAExXD8kw4U3vW6FlnsJdRONbboSXLKI/s320/ENERGY%205.png" width="265" /></a></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aNIZbU8Bjq77nDpplauMrOQ4c0sFZ5i3yb_muablMLsKbQ47oB_wxT2L6p9WJNzFk51vr1T1nWIoyz3D2-jmh7pzSFNDKZhW0NuI3xJQo0iMk8sP3QwXVBzVyfLP1xamdsrobVD9BMChPql5nd1FcXUFY5FZXx-LCWQV3_7slVoIYTH7gPkIsEQUx9I/s490/ENERGY%203.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="362" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aNIZbU8Bjq77nDpplauMrOQ4c0sFZ5i3yb_muablMLsKbQ47oB_wxT2L6p9WJNzFk51vr1T1nWIoyz3D2-jmh7pzSFNDKZhW0NuI3xJQo0iMk8sP3QwXVBzVyfLP1xamdsrobVD9BMChPql5nd1FcXUFY5FZXx-LCWQV3_7slVoIYTH7gPkIsEQUx9I/s320/ENERGY%203.png" width="236" /></a></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This figure above, called the Needle and Thread is from the Nazca lines in the southern desert of Peru. These figures have to be viewed from a plane because they are so large. It is thought by some curanderos to have been related to the shamanic experience and mobilization of this force with the use of mescaline from the San Pedro cactus which is bountiful in Peru. Jungle shamans use Ayahuasca for the same purpose. The figure beautifully demonstrates this energy coiled at the base of the spine (in yoga like a serpent,) then it moves up the spine to the crown. This energy is key to opening up of the Third Eye of the curandero so s/he can divine, diagnose and treat<span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">.</span></span></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE CHAKRA SYSTEM</span></b></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NVxErR4SOkj9KDpxDYAyYURA-u9vKEBVQ9HByWpzbZI1tJsJ5JFsGOYVPs8lT6Wu8nrB5hMICNTYEdpTSvsq4V3sKTlQzsEqQ025PG6iDywpb6N5LoMYdnvdUczOXlrAWI-shElRm_vMsVFdghzDTu841mbn568okQRvB-Wu00nMGR8226ZM6ENnbFg/s612/ENERGY%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NVxErR4SOkj9KDpxDYAyYURA-u9vKEBVQ9HByWpzbZI1tJsJ5JFsGOYVPs8lT6Wu8nrB5hMICNTYEdpTSvsq4V3sKTlQzsEqQ025PG6iDywpb6N5LoMYdnvdUczOXlrAWI-shElRm_vMsVFdghzDTu841mbn568okQRvB-Wu00nMGR8226ZM6ENnbFg/s320/ENERGY%201.png" width="250" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There have been many differing interpretations of this energy system over the ages. In yoga there are thought to be 72,000 nadis or energy channels impinging on the seven chakras. The three lower chakras are related to survival and comprise the following.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The first chakra is our primal survival, flight or fight response. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The second chakra is the sexual center for regeneration of the species as well as for digestion and elimination of the bodies waste products. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">The third is </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">where ego is centered and</span><span style="color: #800180;"> is our power chakra and how we make our way in the world.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The chakras above the diaphragm are our growth centers. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The fourth, the heart, is the chakra of Love and the hardest one to open.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> The fifth, in the throat, is that of our creative expression. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The sixth or Third Eye is our intuitive chakra.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> The Crown or seventh, is our connection with the Deity, Unity Consciousness and non duality.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The three main nadis coursing up the spine are the Sun (</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Pingala) </span><span>and Moon (</span><span>(Ida)</span><span> nadis which spiral around the chakras and the central channel or Sushumna. The Sun Nadi ends in the right nostril and the Moon in the left. This is the basis of alternate nostril breathing and other forms of pranayama which balance the system. The Sun is masculine, left brain, hot (red), </span>expansive and is aligned with our sympathetic nervous system. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Moon is feminine, right brain, cool (blue) and aligned with our parasympathetic, relaxation response</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;">. The Kundalini, serpent, Shakti, feminine energy is wound around the lower part of Central (</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">Sushumna) c</span><span style="color: #800180;">hannel. When the Sun and Moon are in complete balance this serpent energy </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">can</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> </span><span style="color: #800180;">move up the spine energizing the chakras. If Shakti reaches the masculine principle, Shiva, at the crown, Unity Consciousness or the Oneness experience occurs. The Knower, the Known and the Process of Knowing become one. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Click on the link to view the San out of body trance dance filmed in the Kalahari in 2000 by the author. Tribal peoples in Southern Africa have used Kundalini , Num, Umbilini ... </span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">to heal, hunt and survive over the eons.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://davidcumes.com/videos_5.html">videos_5.html</a></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-6278478072367224342024-02-11T07:36:00.000-08:002024-02-11T07:36:35.676-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">"T</span><span style="color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">o listen a soul into disclosure and discovery is the </span><span style="color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">greatest service one human being can offer another." </span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start;">Quaker saying</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start;">Connecting with Self occurs when we balance the polarities found in these energy maps; positive-negative, feminine-masculine, moon-sun, ying-yang, right brain-left brain, </span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">and the autonomic, parasympathetic-sympathetic.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"The fundamental notion of equilibrating the opposites is omnipresent in all beliefs. This universal truth is crucial to our understanding of how we transcend, keep well and heal."</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>Dave Cumes (Inner Passages, Outer Journeys)</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">ENERGY SYSTEMS - ANCIENT MAPS TO THE SELF #1</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">These are the final Blogs in this Series</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span>Modern science creates impressive names for mystical phenomena and things we do not fully understand, such as </span></span><span style="text-align: start;"><span>coherence, physiological arousal, cathartic conversion experience, medical intuitive, distant mental influence on biological systems etc. An understanding of energy maps, however, allows us a deeper appreciation of the Search for the Self and where we are on the journey. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span>A byproduct can be the ability to access, experience and use paranormal phenomena. Ancient wisdom warns us, however, not to turn our quest into an ego driven power trip.</span><br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; text-align: start;"></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NVxErR4SOkj9KDpxDYAyYURA-u9vKEBVQ9HByWpzbZI1tJsJ5JFsGOYVPs8lT6Wu8nrB5hMICNTYEdpTSvsq4V3sKTlQzsEqQ025PG6iDywpb6N5LoMYdnvdUczOXlrAWI-shElRm_vMsVFdghzDTu841mbn568okQRvB-Wu00nMGR8226ZM6ENnbFg/s612/ENERGY%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NVxErR4SOkj9KDpxDYAyYURA-u9vKEBVQ9HByWpzbZI1tJsJ5JFsGOYVPs8lT6Wu8nrB5hMICNTYEdpTSvsq4V3sKTlQzsEqQ025PG6iDywpb6N5LoMYdnvdUczOXlrAWI-shElRm_vMsVFdghzDTu841mbn568okQRvB-Wu00nMGR8226ZM6ENnbFg/s320/ENERGY%201.png" width="250" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"In the samadhi </span><span>(enlightenment) </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">that comes at the end of reasoning and discrimination no such thing as </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">”</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> exists but it is extremely difficult to attain as </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">”</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">consciousness lingers so persistently. This is why humans are born again and again."<br /> </span><span>Sri Rama Krishna</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The essential principle in ascending this energy hierarchy is the yoga concept of Kundalini. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>The Kundalini in the form of latency is coiled like a serpent. One who impels this Shakti to move will attain liberation.”</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hatha Yoga Pradipika</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Kundalini is not confined to Yoga philosophy. We all have this primal, feminine, "Shakti" energy, described as a serpent coiled around the base of the spine. All Southern African tribal peoples recognize this feminine power residing in the lower belly. Some describe it as a snake. The Zulus call it Umbilini and the San-Bushman, Num. This power is key to the initiation of the sangoma (Zulu equivalent of shaman.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">The biggest impediment to moving this energy is the ego. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"God cannot be realized if there is the slightest trace of pride. " </i>Upanishads</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">There is no room for God in him who is full of himself. The sages tell us concerning the proud man; God says; </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">I and he cannot dwell together in the world</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">”</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;">Talmud</span></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><b>"S/He who loses him</b>s<b>elf, will </b></i></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><i style="font-weight: bold;">find himSelf." </i>Jesus</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b>SOME KUNDALINI MANIFESTATIONS</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“A human</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">’</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">s spiritual consciousness is not awakened until his/her Kundalini is aroused.” </span>Sri Ramakrishna</p></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;">Heat, </span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">vibrational energy,</span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;">creeping sensations, tingling - rising up the spine, l</span><span style="text-align: start;">ight experiences, inner sounds, smells, s</span><span style="text-align: start;">pontaneous movements, p</span><span style="text-align: start;">aranormal powers, p</span><span style="text-align: start;">aralysis, falling, an e</span><span style="text-align: start;">mpty mind,</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: -0.38in;">transcendence, being transported beyond </span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: -36.48px;">oneself, feelings of intense love, empathy, compassion, out of body experiences, shamanic states, connecting with spirit guides or ancestors et al ...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -36.48px;">Everyone's experience will be unique so that we should not try to replicate those of others but honor our own, even if less dramatic. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: -36.48px;">For indigenous peoples it can manifest as mastery of fire, shape-shifting as well as the large body experience </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-indent: -36.48px;">seen in their rock art</span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: -36.48px;">. The large or elongated body is perceived below when traveling out of body and is later represented on the rock face by the artist as is the shape shifting.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -36.48px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_KyLXFrEX4eRrP_lZ-PDeaW-fFU204qyWhCmfizsvNxDRSpeQGcZchRKJEI067REZIeG1Vhh3bv9FSIh3T8EGOl5EYvqTiXtS6WAnk64yilo-wv85k-4zyOwZaocogBwQ_VqivIBPtIPT0kHCaUG7cTba9AHOxOhZuvT8T_HkHEdktnkodtFRNSlyb4/s552/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-11%20at%206.34.04%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_KyLXFrEX4eRrP_lZ-PDeaW-fFU204qyWhCmfizsvNxDRSpeQGcZchRKJEI067REZIeG1Vhh3bv9FSIh3T8EGOl5EYvqTiXtS6WAnk64yilo-wv85k-4zyOwZaocogBwQ_VqivIBPtIPT0kHCaUG7cTba9AHOxOhZuvT8T_HkHEdktnkodtFRNSlyb4/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-11%20at%206.34.04%20AM.png" width="242" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcXnD8Ryjrd4JHnWQFbieIHdRcStRyy6VvK41j7XVeQWPWt48xv6iIXsMEL5byHN-rOaLrmU8LaNgVrHTIGvS42WAGV8Mj_8er8fYWPqqj-lK_-bpIMthvaQqqb8s3JxY67X1JouaYYqaMQTOpgG70rnFwkCzkkitwNVtB-F2IgaUQzJgfMsnTVYvW4c/s512/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-11%20at%206.34.20%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcXnD8Ryjrd4JHnWQFbieIHdRcStRyy6VvK41j7XVeQWPWt48xv6iIXsMEL5byHN-rOaLrmU8LaNgVrHTIGvS42WAGV8Mj_8er8fYWPqqj-lK_-bpIMthvaQqqb8s3JxY67X1JouaYYqaMQTOpgG70rnFwkCzkkitwNVtB-F2IgaUQzJgfMsnTVYvW4c/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-11%20at%206.34.20%20AM.png" width="228" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-indent: -36.48px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><b>The yogis describe Unity Consciousness or the Oneness Experience occurring when </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><b>THE KNOWER- THE KNOWN-AND THE PROCESS OF KNOWING </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><b>all fuse into one thing.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;">This is not as exotic as one might think. For instance; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"> <b>THE KNOWER</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;">you</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"> <b>THE KNOWN</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;">say you looking at a rainbow </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"> and </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><b>THE PROCESS OF KNOWING </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;">the rainbow </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;">fuse into one thing and you become the rainbow.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;">For most of us it is fleeting but it is an experience of non-duality which can be ecstatic.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here and you are out there." </i>Roshi</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;">Maslow called this a Peak Experience which he said could occur in the following circumstances (among others;) m</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;">editation, solitude, sex, childbirth, m</span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;">usic, dance, drumming, art, b</span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;">ody awareness, in n</span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;">ature and during a s</span><span style="color: #800180;">cientific discovery.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Some poetic examples of this phenomenon are described below.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">"Haze hung over the valley, light as gossamer and clouds partially dimmed the higher cliffs and mountains. This obscurity of vision increased the awe with which I beheld it and </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">as I looked a peculiar exalted sensation seemed to fill my whole being and I found my eyes in tears with emotion." </span><span style="text-align: start;">Dr. L. </span><span style="text-align: start;">Bunnell (on entering Yosemite valley with the first white party to ever see it.)</span></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"And then it was as if all the chains of a type of slavery dropped from me with such a rush that they tinkled and rattled in my imagination…a great rush of emotion swept over me that was impossible to describe, except that all its urges and manifestations met in a wordless cry; </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I have come home!</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">”</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">L. Van der Post. (After he returned from the war to South Africa, having been interned in a Japanese concentration camp. He had this Oneness Experience with a huge kudu bull which emerged out of the bush while he was trekking.)</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">These experiences are common with drugs, and entheogens - sacred mind-altering plants used in ritual by indigenous peoples. Use of entheogens is becoming common place now in the West. It is good to be careful of ego stepping in after these experiences. The plants should be used to subordinate </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">and humble us, </span><span style="color: #800180;">rather than enhance the ego.</span></span></span></p><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 11.52pt; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.38in;"><b>"A mere glimpse of reality can be mistaken for complete </b></span><span style="color: #800180;"><b style="font-style: italic;">realization." </b>Gampopa</span></span></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 11.52pt; text-indent: -0.38in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"Drugs allow us to taste the beyond but do not make us masters of the transcendental." </i>Sri Satyananda</span></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.38in; margin-top: 11.52pt; text-indent: -36.47999954223633px; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Some adepts have said that dramatic Kundalini experiences are more common when the energy moves in young souls. Older souls are already more energetically aligned and therefore the changes can be subtle. In a sense it is a "slow burn" rather than an inferno. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-indent: -0.38in;">Rather it should be a positive "cathartic conversion experience." </span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: -0.38in;"><span>One has to be careful moving this energy because it can be confusing and dibilitating to the uninformed. Lee Sannella, a psychiatrist, </span>wrote<span> about how it could be confused as psychosis. This is a spiritual emergency rather than a psychosis. The remedy is to honor it as possibly life-changing rather than </span>suppressing it with<span> anti-psychotic drugs. </span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);">Stansilov and Christina Grof in the 60's, with their work on L.S.D., coined the term Spiritual Emergency - when spiritual emergence became </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);">too</span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"> intense and an emergency. They founded the Spiritual Emergence Network</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"> to help those having these radical, transformative, </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);">spiritual</span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);">experiences.</span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-indent: -36.48px;"><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; line-height: 14.4px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p></span></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-20558219711139237822024-02-03T05:46:00.000-08:002024-02-03T05:46:52.730-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); text-align: center;">FORGIVENESS #4</b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); text-align: center;"><br /></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">"Why do the ancient masters esteem the Tao? Because being one with the Tao, when you seek you find, when you make a mistake you are forgiven. That is why everyone loves it.” </span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: start;">Lao-</span><span style="font-weight: 400; text-align: start;">tsu</span></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><b>DEATH AND FORGIVENESS</b></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“It is very dangerous to go into eternity with possibilities which one has oneself prevented from becoming realities...”</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">Soren</span><span style="text-align: start;"> Kierkegaard</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">Before death it is essential to </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: left;">take the skeletons out of the closet and </span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start;">complete any unfinished business. We must forgive and clean the slate. It can be done after death but this will probably require expert spiritual help. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">It is also important for those passing to release the living from any unresolved commitments. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">We have to forgive if there is a need to do so and also ask forgiveness if required. Forgiveness will release the dead from that particular karmic sin. The dead often haunt the living hoping to be forgiven from their iniquities. Forgiveness is best asked for or given before death but it must be sincere - saying <i>"I think I forgave him..."</i> - is not enough.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;">After we cross over the veil between the worlds we will need to reconcile our karma with a spiritual tribunal of a higher order. This is not judgment day as such. We are lovingly shown our </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); text-align: left;">prior unskillful behaviors and</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;">the errors of our ways for which we will be accountable karmically in terms of the next lifetime we will inherit. We often reincarnate into the family or situation that can best test us with our unresolved issues so that we can learn to overcome them.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Most of us will end up in one of the numerous vibrations in the Astral realm, often with our loved ones. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Once in the Astral we lose free will and the only way we can do correctional service is through the free will of a living loved one. The dead may be able to become a guide to the living which can allow them to complete tasks they did not complete in the prior life time. We actually help our guides by allowing them to help us. Free will is the cosmic law so that we have to develop a relationship and ask to receive.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Enlightened beings in the Causal realms retain free will, can operate independently and no longer need to reincarnate unless they choose to do so for a special purpose.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b>FORGIVENESS LETTER</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">So what can we do if we never managed to reconcile before death? My guides help my clients through ritual in reconciling grievances and healing but anyone can do a modified ritual that can have power.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"> Forgiveness can be very difficult for those who have suffered sexual, physical, emotional or any other form of abuse that affected the trajectory of that person's life. Lesser amounts of interference may also have prevented their progeny from recognizing their dreams for themselves even if the parent or guardian mistakenly felt they were doing if for the child's good. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;">After I had done my internship I shared my plan to be a surgeon with a</span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">patriarchal uncle. I should have known better. He dogmatically stated without hesitation</span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start;">: <i>"David you are not surgical material, best you just become a G.P." </i>I did not listen to him and I used his bias as a catalyst to inspire me to go beyond his arrogance. If I had listened, he may have been karmically accountable for sabotaging my future career.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Messages to the spirit world are best done through the container of a ritual which anyone can do. I recommend that the person doing the ritual release all their negativity first by writing a letter of all the things that transpired that caused pain and resentment. No detail should be spared. One should go back in time and describe all the negative things that happened. This may require several days of writing and may involve more than one perpetrator. The intention to let go should be strong. Because this is done in ritual and appealing to the "Field," it is not psychotherapy. The sufferer is soliciting their higher Self, their guides and the spiritual tribunal above for a cathartic release and a healing. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Once the letter is completed it should be burnt together with dried, sacred plants (cedar, sage etc.) as a carrier of the clearing to the spirit world. The ashes are then wrapped in toilet paper. The sufferer goes to any body of water - river, lake, creek or ocean - and, throws the past "crap" into the water. The ritual is completed by saying aloud to the spirit world and the offending person; "I am releasing myself from any negativity with this ritual, it is water under the bridge for me and you are hereby released from any karmic implications on my behalf. It is critical to then walk way and not look back as a gesture of certainty and final commitment to the ritual and to the spirit world. Looking back indicates to the Field that you are not sure. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b>MALICE IS ANTITHETICAL TO THE HIGHER SELF</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><i style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);"><b>"Malice sucks up the greater part of its own venom, and poisons itself."</b> </i><span style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);">Michel Montaigne</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Our primitive harmful emotions include; resentment, anger, hatred, envy, malice and a desire for vengeance.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. </i>Saint Augustine</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Malignant misconceptions are prevalent in our culture and vengeance is a popular theme in violent movies. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start;">Forgiveness these days, in many circles, is considered a sign of weakness. Love, compassion, empathy are perceived as lacking strength.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"<span>A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave." </span></b><span><span>M. Gandhi</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the fall of Apartheid in South Africa planned to forgive the perpetrators of their heinous political crimes so that the country could heal and there would not become a blood bath.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Albie Sachs the lawyer who headed the Commission said.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">“It is vitally important that we see these </span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">mens</span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">’ humanity.”</span></b><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"> </span></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Both Nelson Mandela and Bishop Tutu wanted healing and their hope was to reach out with compassion and not revenge. </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">Remorse and contrition on behalf of the perpetrators was essential and was meant to be</span><span style="text-align: start;"> an opening for healing and repentance. </span></span><span style="color: #800180;">A sincere apology for the atrocity and admission of all that had been done was key.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span>As a victim of the abuse said to De </span><span>Kock -</span><span> one of the offenders - <i>“I hope when he sees my tears he knows that they are not only tears for our husbands</i></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><i> but tears for him as well." </i></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Another thanked him for the truth which helped them to reconcile. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;">There were many who disagreed with the principles of the Commission and wanted revenge. Many disagreed with the concept that Karma would eventually reconcile all grievances. There is resentment to this day concerning the events but one thing it lead to during Mandela's presidency was the emergence of a peaceful "Rainbow Nation" where mostly everyone welcomed a peaceful transition. Sadly after Mandela's demise everthing changed for the worse. Mandela had a Gandhi like attitude.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." </b>M. Gandhi</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span><b><i>…We must beware of anger and pride which are weapons of chaos, connecting us to our destructive instincts…</i></b></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span><span><b>"</b></span><i style="font-weight: bold;">Vengeance is mine </i><b><i>sayeth</i></b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> the Lord."</i></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Vengeance is not the same as making those who commit atrocities pay the price for what they have done. Vengeance implies a hateful emotion associated with the punishment - someone who delights in carrying out the retribution and seeing the suffering of their victim. Vengeance no matter how </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">satisfying</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> creates a </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">serious</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> karmic burden for the </span></b></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>vengeful.</b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><br /></p></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span><b>“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge … <br />I am the Lord.” </b><span style="font-style: normal;">Leviticus</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><b>“Vengeance is Mine, and retribution. </b><br /><b>In due time their foot will slip.</b><br /><b> For the day of their calamity is near </b><br /><b>and the impending things are hastening upon them.” </b><span style="font-style: normal;">Deuteronomy</span></span></i></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span><i><span><b>“Do not say I will repay evil with evil </b><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><b>Do not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me…</b><br /><b> for I will render to the person according to his work. …” </b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span>Proverb</span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span>s</span></span></i></span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span><br /><b><span style="font-style: italic;">“Do not repay anyone evil for evil</span><span style="font-style: italic;">…</span></b><span style="font-style: italic;"><b>”</b> </span>Romans 12:17<br /></span><span></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-style: italic;">“</span><span style="font-style: italic;">…</span><span style="font-style: italic;">and do not give the Devil a foothold.” </span></b><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start;">Ephesians 4:27</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; unicode-bidi: embed; widows: auto; word-break: normal;"></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></div></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span></span><span></span></span><span face="-webkit-standard"></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span></span><span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span face="-webkit-standard" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span face="-webkit-standard" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span></span><span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span><span></span><span></span><span></span></span><span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span><span></span></span><span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span><span></span></span><span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span></span></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p></span></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-18047287062346196342024-01-28T05:46:00.000-08:002024-01-28T05:46:22.502-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"> FORGIVENESS #3</span></b></p></span></span></div><p></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“In every person there is something precious which is in no-one else. And so we should honor each for what is hidden within </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">them</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> for what only they have.” </span><span>Talmud</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b style="text-align: center;">GRANTING OTHERS FORGIVENESS</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b style="text-align: center;"><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b style="text-align: center;"><span><i><span style="text-align: start;">It is all about </span><span style="text-align: start;">cosmic union</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">. </span><span style="text-align: start;">Go forward with forgiveness which is essential to substance and joy.</span></i></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; text-align: start;"></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span></span><span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“Great are the righteous for they transform </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">judgment</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"> into </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">compassion.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">” </span><span style="text-align: start;">Genesis Raba 33.3</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;"><b>REASONS FOR GRANTING FORGIVENESS</b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span><span style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“When a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive.” </span><span style="text-align: start;">Alan Paton</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;"><b>Forgiveness is healthful</b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;">Research has </span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">shown that forgiveness can enhance our immune systems. It is may be more beneficial for the one doing the forgiveness even than the one receiving it. Cynicism on the other hand increases our pro-inflammatory factors which can cause various diseases.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b>Turn the other cheek</b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b><i>If we cannot embrace the other, do not think to embrace God.</i></b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;">We need to</span><span style="text-align: start;"> respond positively if at all possible. </span><span style="text-align: start;">I</span><span style="text-align: start;">f</span><span style="text-align: start;"> we respond negatively we</span><span style="text-align: start;"> inherit his/her energy and loose our power. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;">It's not about them it's about you. </span><span style="text-align: start;">Be compassionated. Imagine them changing for the better.</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="text-align: start;"><b><i>Make of your opponent, a dance partner.</i></b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><span><b>“The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become.” </b></span></span><span style="text-align: start;"><span>Goethe </span><br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span><b>Granting forgiveness is good karma, holding a grudge - not.</b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">Our judgments, thoughts, feelings and actions all have connections not just in the material world </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">but in the spiritual realm.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"> The spiritual influences the material. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">We invite, support, encourage or </span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>exclude, reject, discourage and </i></span></span></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>forgive or hold a </i></span><i>grudge </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>…</i></span></span></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>IT IS USEFUL TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING ...</b></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Was it intentional?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Is there a unique cultural issue?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Was it real/true or was one in a negative receptive space at the time and are we projecting?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span>Forgiveness is focused on the degree to which we are holding our anger. It is an internal process totally dependent on us where negative feelings are released. </span>Only we can release our negative feelings, <span style="font-family: inherit;">though other people and situations can inspire. </span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <span><span style="text-align: start;">Consider whether reconciliation is possible or even desirable. Reconciliation goes beyond forgiveness. Do not feel that you must reconcile with a person </span><span style="text-align: start;">whom you have forgiven for a hurt.</span></span><span style="text-align: start;"> You do not have to embrace someone who has done something despicable. </span></span></div><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div style="color: black;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;">You can keep it secret if you want, there is no necessity to reveal what transpired.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;">It is critical to forgive or ask forgiveness from our loved ones or those close to us, and clean the slate before death. This will be dealt with in the next blog. </span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i>“Iniquities are etched upon our bones such that traces remain even when God forgives. </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i>One must acknowledge and confess the wrongdoing to have the </i></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i>stain cleansed and the record removed.“</i> </span>Ezekiel</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>The circumstances may vary as follows.</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><b>Minor/Petty </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span>If you have been incorrectly perceived as doing wrong by someone, you can still offer an apology for any hurt caused without owning any culpability. The hurt to that person can be real.</span></span><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Significant</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Offense given concerning anyone's religion, traditions or belief systems or s</span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">ocial issues that divide.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Any<span style="font-family: inherit;"> time one may have caused; a</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-size: large;">nger, resentment, sadness, grief or pain needlessly</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-size: x-large;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Critical</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Factors leading to adverse affects on another's</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">life, limb, organ or function. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Those affecting someone's livelihood or finances.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Adultery.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Any time one may have shattered someone's ego causing shame and humiliation.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">In letting go of a grievance, forgiveness is to return to the Self more completely than before.</span></span></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span><i><span>Return </span><span>is the key … joyously turning from doubt, suspicion and indifference to trust, hope and love. </span></i></span></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span><i><span>Repent with joy, forgive with joy. You are returning to your-Self and are back on the path.</span></i></span><span face="-webkit-standard"></span></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span>According to Maimonides the great sage, the following steps are required when asking for forgiveness in order to neutralize our karmic sins. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span><b><span style="font-style: italic;">Admit to and truly “feel” regret or remorse about the wrongfulness.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Say so to the offended one or ones, and if necessary, in public.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Apologize without any attempt to rationalize or self-justify.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Restore what has been lost if possible or compensate.</span><br /><br /></b></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span><b>Determine never to repeat it. Also decide on how the event could have been managed more skillfully.</b></span><b> </b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">When asking for forgiveness allow the other to be where they are. Your regrets may not be accepted especially if you cannot repair the damage or compensate. At least show willingness to do so. If done with good intent it should unite and not divide. </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">Whether accepted or not it will be of benefit. </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Even if one has not been forgiven it will improve one's state of being by releasing a stain on one's soul.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><b style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="text-align: left;">"What you give to if not received is still not lost. Not getting back what you give and or not having what you give being received – </span><span style="text-align: left;">neither way is a waste or loss</span><span style="text-align: left;">.”</span></i></b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">John O'donahue</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"> According to Maimonides t</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">he damaged party should forgive the perpetrator before Divine forgiveness is granted. </span></span>If forgiveness is rejected it is best to try again. After another refusal, the person is no longer held accountable for that action as s/he has proven their true regret. The person who will not accept a sincere apology after these requests, however, becomes guilty of bearing a grudge.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-33025602725593148632024-01-20T05:07:00.000-08:002024-01-20T05:07:48.843-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> FORGIVENESS #2</span></b></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: start;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: start;">GRANTING OUR SELVES FORGIVENESS !</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: start;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: start;">Forgiveness of Self and Atonement for what we have done to our Higher Selves. </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: start;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: start;"></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God is a persistent lover wooing us with many pleasures, lavishing endless grace, wanting our delight, hoping for our trust.</span></i></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: start;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">The Self is pure but often polluted by our primitive desires. We need to forgive ourselves to recover that purity. This is also the parable of the prodigal son or daughter returning to the Creator in wholeness.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><b style="font-style: italic;">God is not a test of love, God's love is not a test. </b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">(Karma is the test.)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: start;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">Self-Forgiveness can often be the most difficult in cases where there has been shame or severe guilt from abusive actions one has experienced from others or another or those that one has done to one's-Self.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“…care about people</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">’</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">s approval and you will be their prisoner…” </span><span>Tao </span><span>Te</span><span> </span><span>Ching</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><b>"…you are accepted by the sun, you are accepted by the moon, you are accepted by the trees, you are accepted by the ocean, you are accepted by the earth. What more do you want? You are accepted by this whole universe. Rejoice in it!</b>” </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: start;">Osho</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>“Everybody feels inferior in some way or other. And the reason is that we don’t accept that everybody is unique. There is no question of inferiority or superiority. Everybody is just one of his kind - comparison does not arise. <br />The moment you accept yourself as you are, without any comparison, all inferiority, all superiority, disappears. In that total acceptance or yourself you will be free from these complexes - inferiority, superiority. Otherwise you will suffer your whole life.... </b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just be yourself, that is enough…</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>Osho</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;">However, we do need to scrutinize w</span></span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span>hat have we done to our Selves but with <b>S</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start;">elf-compassion which creates <b>S</b></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start;">elf-worth - never with</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><b>S</b></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">elf Condemnation. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sometimes we have regrets about things that we have failed to do rather than negative acts that could incriminate us. These "pebbles of regret" can weigh us down and must also be released. They can also cause guilt and shame and depending on the circumstances, "survivor's guilt."</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">We need to understand that <b>S</b>elf-worth, which has to do with soul work, is not the same as self-esteem which refers to the small self implying pride - a recipe for narcissism.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: center;">(California's self-esteem movement in the 60's had the opposite effect to what had been intended. Later in life those children performed less well, mostly because they had been misguided about their abilities by undeserved praise. They had a greater incidence of depression as well as suicidal tendencies.)</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><span>We are all worthy of respect and an unconditional positive regard for our Higher Selves. In other words U.S.A. Universal Self-acceptance not only for our own True Self but also that of others.</span><span face="-webkit-standard" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"><b>S</b>elf-condemnation </span><span style="color: #800180;">strengthens</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> shame and guilt which is a huge impediment on the path of </span></span><span style="color: #800180;"><span><b>S</b>elf-transformation. It puts the brain in lock down mode, cutting us off from our prefrontal lobe and higher consciousness. We then default to our</span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> primitive brain's </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">survival mode which is linked to the sympathetic nervous system, flight or fight, and even freeze and 'feign' death (panic.)</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Feeling bad about ourselves can lead to more "badness." We are responsible for but are not our actions.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">As you think it so it can be. As you believe it so it will be.</span></i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">“Self condemnation strengthens guilt which is one of the greatest obstacles on the path of realization.”</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Sri Swami Rama</span></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); text-align: start;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Be patient with yourself, kind to yourself and release yourself from what you are not accountable.</span></i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">An unconditional regard for ourselves r</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-indent: -36.47999954223633px;">educes anxiety, depress</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-indent: -36.47999954223633px;">ion and increases </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-indent: -36.47999954223633px;">happiness, optimism, positive emotions and <b>S</b>elf worth. </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-indent: -36.47999954223633px;">U.S.A. </span></span><span style="color: #800180;">d</span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: -0.38in;">oes not imply enabling or condoning </span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: -0.38in;">unskillful behavior. We have to recognize when we have done wrong and make amends.</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Asking for forgiveness must begin with genuine remorse and regret for what we have done. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start; text-indent: -0.38in;">Remorse is when you feel bad about </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; text-align: start; text-indent: -0.38in;">what you did</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">Unremitting guilt or worse shame is when you feel bad about </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">who you are </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">and has no place in <b>S</b>elf-worth</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We need to substitute </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); font-family: inherit;">regret or </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">remorse for our </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); font-family: inherit;">guilt or shame.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"Shame is the swampland of the soul." </i>C.G. Jung </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); font-family: inherit;">Shame is a crippling emotional force.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span><b><i style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); font-family: inherit;">"Shame is more than a word or a noun. Shame is a voice ... If we are not </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102);"><i>careful</i></span><i style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); font-family: inherit;"> we can allow shame to speak toxic words deep into our </i></b></span></span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102);"><b><i>vulnerable souls ... Shame is a ruthless voice, an inner critic of all things detrimental and damaging ... </i></b></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180;">C.G. Jung </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180;"><b><i>"The voice of shame is </i></b></span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102);"><b style="font-style: italic;">invisibility." </b>Bren'e Brown</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102);"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“Shame cannot survive being spoken.”</span><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;">Bren'e Brown</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102);"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102);"> The only way out of it is through it. One needs to come out of hiding and talk it out with someone trustworthy and compassionate. This may require some form of rehabilitation program. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180;">One can have shame without having done anything wrong. The </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180;">wrong</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180;"> has been </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180;">perpetrated</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180;"> by another. We need to shift the blame to where it belongs.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(102, 0, 102); color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"> </span></p></span></span></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 20pt; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-37393922619935706382024-01-13T13:12:00.000-08:002024-01-13T13:12:14.961-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF #7</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Contents of these several Blogs are below. These are to delineate the crucial factors in the Search for the Self. The Brown color delineates what has been done so far.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">SELF-REALIZATION or (“BECOMING”)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">FREE WILL</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span>IMPERMANENCE AND</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span> NON-ATTACHMENT</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">KARMA’S FIVE PRECEPTS</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"> THE THREE DEADLIEST SINS OF KARMA</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">THE HERO/INE vs. THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE</span></div><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">THE HEALING OF MEANING</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">DEATH - THE FINAL JOURNEY</span></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">SPIRITUAL PRACTICE – "FIELD" – SPIRIT GUIDES</span></div><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GRATITUDE</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span>LOVE - </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">FORGIVENESS </span></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">ENERGY SYSTEMS</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">LOVE AND FORGIVENESS </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">#7</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LOVE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><b style="color: black;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">… doing for love is not the same as doing <span>with love.</span></span></i></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">What do you seek?<br />Being right or understanding?<br />Being heard or hearing?<br />Being loved or loving?<br />If you seek the one you will not find the other.<br />If you seek the other you will find both.</span></i></b></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">The more you do for love, the more love will do for you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Love, laughter and song chase away the dark forces and all that is dreaded from your nights and days.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">Love on the Tree of life forms a Triad that balances Judgment and Mercy. The Ancestors teach us to <b><i>"sweeten" </i></b>our judgments, to try and walk in the others' shoes and to judge the action not the person. It is said that when the student of Kabbalah has mastered this Triad s/he can teach themselves. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); text-align: center;"><span><i>“To awaken the <span>heart, </span>is to awaken the dormant soul.”</i></span></b><i style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); text-align: center;"><span> </span></i><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); text-align: center;">Gandhi</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">It is also the most difficult chakra to master in yoga.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">…The early sages taught that<br /><span> </span>the pursuit of wisdom ennobled the intellect with knowledge of God, <span>while love brought one into His presence.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rM6PZj0A0eQUVIIienZC5268LA_0rBLr1HCSPogDgv07VS7zLweiW638EeOt_esJD9bVAavX8R94pZph9QYvr7xdGfQziKx-DfFA-CdEGtMNbpKppigRBQ_vHPRuOtwUkF0f1RLPDV9xwJsK2KWPn9ruvdkunvOOOflXDPYEb1m0YZT6rZEx-qnHpxg/s510/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-01%20at%207.31.48%20AM.png" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rM6PZj0A0eQUVIIienZC5268LA_0rBLr1HCSPogDgv07VS7zLweiW638EeOt_esJD9bVAavX8R94pZph9QYvr7xdGfQziKx-DfFA-CdEGtMNbpKppigRBQ_vHPRuOtwUkF0f1RLPDV9xwJsK2KWPn9ruvdkunvOOOflXDPYEb1m0YZT6rZEx-qnHpxg/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-01%20at%207.31.48%20AM.png" width="284" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave.”</span></i></b><b><i><span> </span></i></b><span>Mahatma Gandhi<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">Loving and being loved is soul talk. To love is also to be vulnerable to love from others and to love one's-Self - that part of us made in the image of the Divine.</span></p></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“Love is the most universal, formidable and mysterious of all the cosmic forces.” </span></i></b><span>De Chardin</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">We are all one, though not the same.</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="kb0PBd cvP2Ce jGGQ5e" data-snf="x5WNvb" data-snhf="0" style="flex: 0 0 auto; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;"><div class="yuRUbf" style="line-height: 1.58;"><span jsaction="rcuQ6b:npT2md;PYDNKe:bLV6Bd;mLt3mc" jscontroller="msmzHf" style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div class="notranslate TbwUpd YmJh3d NJjxre iUh30 ojE3Fb" style="align-items: center; display: flex; left: 0px; line-height: 1.3; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><div class="GTRloc"><div class="byrV5b" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"><a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw1N5KUsiOki_QpVelj1Sy_8" data-ved="2ahUKEwiDt8mUidiDAxWiH0QIHVL4DzUQFnoECA4QAQ" href="https://plumvillage.org/articles/interrelationship-poem-by-thich-nhat-hanh" jsname="UWckNb" style="color: #681da8; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><cite class="qLRx3b tjvcx GvPZzd cHaqb" role="text" style="color: #4d5156; font-style: normal; line-height: 18px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"></cite></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw1N5KUsiOki_QpVelj1Sy_8" data-ved="2ahUKEwiDt8mUidiDAxWiH0QIHVL4DzUQFnoECA4QAQ" href="https://plumvillage.org/articles/interrelationship-poem-by-thich-nhat-hanh" jsname="UWckNb" style="color: #681da8; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"></a><a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw1N5KUsiOki_QpVelj1Sy_8" data-ved="2ahUKEwiDt8mUidiDAxWiH0QIHVL4DzUQFnoECA4QAQ" href="https://plumvillage.org/articles/interrelationship-poem-by-thich-nhat-hanh" jsname="UWckNb" style="color: #681da8; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div class="notranslate TbwUpd YmJh3d NJjxre iUh30 ojE3Fb" style="align-items: center; display: inline; left: 0px; line-height: 1.3; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"><br /></div></a></div></div></div></div></span><div class="B6fmyf byrV5b Mg1HEd" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; height: auto; position: absolute; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"><div class="TbwUpd YmJh3d iUh30 ojE3Fb" style="align-items: center; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; display: flex; line-height: 1.3; padding: 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="H9lube" style="align-items: center; background-color: #f1f3f4; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border: 1px solid rgb(236, 237, 239); display: inline-flex; height: 26px; justify-content: center; margin-right: 12px; vertical-align: middle; width: 26px;"><div class="eqA2re NjwKYd" style="height: 18px; margin-right: 0px; width: 18px;"></div></span><div class="GTRloc"><span class="VuuXrf" style="display: block; line-height: 20px;"></span><div class="byrV5b" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"><cite class="qLRx3b tjvcx GvPZzd cHaqb" role="text" style="color: #4d5156; font-style: normal; line-height: 18px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"><span><span class="ylgVCe ob9lvb" role="text" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span></cite></div></div></div><div class="csDOgf BCF2pd ezY6nb L48a4c" style="display: inline; height: 18px; margin-left: 8px; margin-top: 16px; position: relative; visibility: visible;"><div data-bsextraheight="0" data-frm="true" data-isdesktop="true" data-movewtractions="true" data-ved="2ahUKEwiDt8mUidiDAxWiH0QIHVL4DzUQ2esEegQIDhAJ" jscontroller="exgaYe" jsdata="l7Bhpb;_;Bk5Id4 cECq7c;_;Bk5IeQ"><div aria-label="About this result" class="iTPLzd rNSxBe lUn2nc" jsaction="RvIhPd" jsname="I3kE2c" role="button" style="cursor: pointer; left: 0px; line-height: 16px; outline: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-right: 12px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 28px; z-index: 1;" tabindex="0"><span class="D6lY4c mBswFe" jsname="czHhOd" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 11px; border-bottom-right-radius: 11px; border-top-left-radius: 11px; border-top-right-radius: 11px; height: 22px; position: absolute; width: 22px;"><span class="xTFaxe z1asCe" jsname="Bil8Ae" style="color: #4d5156; display: inline-block; fill: currentcolor; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; height: 18px; line-height: 18px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 18px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></div><svg focusable="false" style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; white-space: nowrap;" viewbox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M12 8c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2s-.9-2-2-2-2 .9-2 2 .9 2 2 2zm0 2c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2s.9 2 2 2 2-.9 2-2-.9-2-2-2zm0 6c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2s.9 2 2 2 2-.9 2-2-.9-2-2-2z"></path></svg></span></span></div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; white-space: nowrap;"><span data-ved="2ahUKEwiDt8mUidiDAxWiH0QIHVL4DzUQh-4GegQIDhAK" jsname="zOVa8" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="LEwnzc Sqrs4e" style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> "</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">You are me, and I am you. Isn't it obvious that</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">we “inter-are</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">”? </span>Thich Nhat Hahn</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><i style="font-weight: bold;">"The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose</i><i style="font-weight: bold;"> I am here and you are out there." </i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">Yasutani </span><span style="color: #800180;">Roshi </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">Love your neighbor as yourself obliges us to see the divine spark that is in all of us. It does not require we like, nor </span><span style="text-align: center;">or have anything much to do with him or her,</span><span style="text-align: center;"> but respect the Self within them. This is not love as a sentiment or emotion but as a commitment. Its embraced by the yoga greeting Namaste - I recognize the divinity within you.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #800180; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: center;">Ubuntu is a Bantu concept.</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; direction: ltr; line-height: 14.4px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"> </span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“Ubuntu speaks to the essence of being human. The solitary individual is in our understanding a contradiction in terms. You are a person through other persons. Ubuntu speaks about the importance of communal harmony; warmth, compassion, generosity, hospitality and seeks to embrace others.”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bishop Tutu</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">FORGIVENESS #1</span></b></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(Mercy vs. Judgment)</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-style: italic;">“</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Despise no person and consider nothing impossible, for there is no one who does not have his/her hour and there is nothing that does not have its place.” </span>Talmud </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: italic;">"Patience in enduring evil</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: italic;">Mercy to the point of recalling only the good qualities of our tormentor.</span></b></span></div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">Remembering them in the innocence of their infancy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Mercy beyond the letter of the law ...” </i>Cordovero</div></span><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The second Triad of the Tree of Life concerns empathy and compassion which enables forgiveness. </span></p><p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>The goal is not to retreat from misunderstandings but is to avoid giving cause for them. The intention is not simply to do away with misunderstandings but to have either more or better understandings.</i></b></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Mercy, compassion, empathy are key to Forgiveness.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeoLc9XOsQ-RU4-b5IuIQZ-xsBVYAQ-_Choaw5rBoMarHZXki1_0gs1O6-natppB2-FFZp9Pr_I5OSNEaKM3PuBoiB9Vf8nYF5eu2eN8YxHarFiaekcmlaOGJ_OgaR4gBQd0wFuLlwg3rhouloaDKOv_pbHZgRekC1Hs6fC134wonnPvE71iJtR8EG8M/s1010/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-06%20at%2012.43.41%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="892" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeoLc9XOsQ-RU4-b5IuIQZ-xsBVYAQ-_Choaw5rBoMarHZXki1_0gs1O6-natppB2-FFZp9Pr_I5OSNEaKM3PuBoiB9Vf8nYF5eu2eN8YxHarFiaekcmlaOGJ_OgaR4gBQd0wFuLlwg3rhouloaDKOv_pbHZgRekC1Hs6fC134wonnPvE71iJtR8EG8M/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-06%20at%2012.43.41%20PM.png" width="283" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: italic;">“To err is human, to forgive Divine</span><span>”</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span><b>"</b></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><b>Forgiveness is part of the treasure you need to craft your falcon wings and return to your true realm of Divine Freedom.”</b> </span><span>Hafitz</span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span>To forgive is to return to Self and to <i>"... lay our burden down by the riverside and to study war </i>(inside of us) <i>no more."</i></span></span></span></p></span></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Forgiveness relieves the one receiving it and the one giving it - of a burden that can be an albatross around one's neck</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">God save thee, ancient Mariner</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">From the fiends, that plague thee thus</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">Why look'st thou so ? - With my cross-bow</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">I shot the albatross.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">...</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">Ah well a-day. what evil looks</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">Had I from old and young</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">Instead of the cross, the Albatross</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(76, 76, 76); text-align: start;"><b style="font-style: italic;">About my neck was hung... </b>S. T. Coleridge</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: start;"><b><i>“Forgiveness is the most completing gift we can experience for we all have its sweet need. </i></b></span></span></span></span><b style="color: #800180;"><i><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></i></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;">John </span><span style="text-align: start;">O’donahue</span></span></span></p></div></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><b>“In forgiving and letting go we can then exalt in treasuring what we truly most treasure.”</b> </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-size: large;">J. O’donahue</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“Forgiveness is the most completing gift we can experience for we all have its sweet need</span></i></b><b><span>.”</span></b><span> J. O’donahue</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Forgiveness is generated by empathy and compassion, not only for others but also for ourselves. </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Many of us are making new year resolutions at this time. Forgiveness should be considered as being one of them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b>THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS TO FORGIVENESS</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>GRANTING OURSELVES FORGIVENESS</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This is often the most difficult.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><b>"And if your friend does evil to you, say to him, “I forgive you for what you did to me, but how can I forgive you for what you did to yourself?”</b> </span><span style="text-align: start;">Nietzsche</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><b>“What are the ways of the Holy One. A God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving, iniquity, transgression and sin.” </b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;">Exodus 34:6</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Before we can forgive others we first need to forgive ourselves or we may project that burden onto others.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">“If we do not transform our pain,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span>we will most assuredly transmit it.” </span></span><span>Richard Rohr</span></span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>GRANTING OTHERS FORGIVENESS</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">To engage in the dance of movement with one’s opponent makes him/her a partner.</span></i></b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>“Actions arise from conditions. Do not judge then the former until the latter is well understood. If you have eaten what the judged one has eaten, and worn his clothes, and thought his thoughts, and felt both his joy and pain then you may say you have stood in his place but only briefly compared to the length of his stay. So still you may not know the past or present plights that plague him. </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Our judgments are frequently fraught with error and usually tainted with arrogance. Compassion and love are our salvation and joy.” </b>Hillel</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>"Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by </b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">the laughter of the gods.” </b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Goethe</span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>ASKING OTHERS FOR FORGIVENESS</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Forgiveness must begin with remorse, regret, acknowledgment and confession for what we have done.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“A person cannot find redemption until s/he sees the flaws in his soul and tries to efface them. Whoever shuts out the realization of his flaws is shutting out redemption. We can only be redeemed to the extent to which we see ourselves.” </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: start;">Talmud</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: start;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><i>“Iniquities are etched upon our bones such that traces remain even when God forgives. One must acknowledge and confess the wrongdoing to have the </i></span><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><i>stain cleansed and the record removed.“</i> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Ezekiel</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-63182564116343290872024-01-06T04:56:00.000-08:002024-01-06T04:56:17.987-08:00<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE #6</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">The Contents of these several Blogs are below. These are to delineate the crucial factors in the Search for the Self. The Brown color delineates what has been done so far.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); text-align: start;">ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); text-align: start;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">SELF-REALIZATION (“BECOMING”)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">FREE WILL</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span>IMPERMANENCE AND</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span> NON-ATTACHMENT</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">KARMA’S FIVE PRECEPTS</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> THE THREE DEADLIEST SINS OF KARMA</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>THE HERO/INE vs. THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE</span><br /><span>THE HEALING OF MEANING</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>DEATH - THE FINAL JOURNEY</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"FIELD," THE CREATOR, </b></span><b>GUIDES, ANCESTORS AND</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b>SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>GRATITUDE</span><br /><span>LOVE - </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">FORGIVENESS </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">ENERGY SYSTEMS</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> "FIELD," THE CREATOR, </b></span><b>GUIDES, ANCESTORS AND</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b>SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Out there beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a Field, I will meet you there." </i>Rumi</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;">Accessing the "Field" can allow us</span> - not to the same extent as our guides<span> - </span><span>to sample being non-local in space and time. This can have tremendous advantages. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>Even if we cannot access the Field ourselves we can still have a relationship with our guides/ancestors who can assist us with their wisdoms. Our guides are dwelling in a non-local, space-time reality. They can script our dreams and tell us things we cannot know. They can also "copy and paste" information into our psyches during awake time. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>The Field can respond to our intentions and </span><span>will reward us for having a strong will, motivation, commitment and passion. However, we have to ask to receive because of the cosmic law of free will. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>Spiritual practice can enable us to shift our vibration so that we can open our "Third" intuitive eye. If we do so ... we may be able <i>to see what seeing eyes cannot and hear what hearing ears cannot.</i> In other word we have the potential to access information not bound to our five senses which can help us on our Search for the Self.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>Gratitude and respect facilitate this access</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b>SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</b></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Balance is achieved by harmonizing polarities. </i></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Dualities come into harmony by negotiating a third or middle path, a path not of assimilation but a path of coexistence.</i></b></div></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anything that gives us serenity, equanimity, inner peace, balance, harmony, happiness and that generates an in the moment experience <span>can be considered spiritual practice. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Changing our vibration and opening up our energy centers requires an ongoing spiritual practice or any method of going inward. Anything done for its own sake, not to perform or look good or with an agenda can qualify. It should be regular, sustainable and enjoyable and done for at least 20 minutes. These can be the standard more Eastern meditations which are so popular or anything else. Since the Western mind is so active it helps to have more than one way of going inward. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><b><i style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You are to find the one </i><i>meant especially for you.</i></b></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><i>The route to God is through the senses. From my flesh will I behold the Creator.</i></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><i>The soul's conversation is not of the mind but of the senses.</i></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">When it comes to more esoteric practices the Ancestors endorse one that is sensory and bodily oriented; singing, dancing, drumming, chanting, playing an instrument, journaling, painting, yoga asanas or pranayama, Tai Chi, Chi Gong etc. - always done for its own sake alone. </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b><i>"Whatever being comes to be, be it motionless or moving, derives its being from Field and Knower of the Field."</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bhagavad Gita</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Creator would like a personal connection with each one of us - if possible along with our unique God give destiny. It has been said that the Infinite One is playing hide and seek but no one wants to play.</span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i>“Search for me and you will find me. Seek me with all your heart and I will let you find me.”</i></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span>Jeremiah</span></span></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>God’s breath is heard in quietness and felt in stillness.</b></span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Beware the noises and clamor of ego which drown out the Divine whisper.</b></span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In stillness we can feel ourselves being filled with God’s breath. </span><span>The rules are simple but difficult.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>It will be given to you according to the measure of your humility, the measure of your love and the measure of your faith.</i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>CONCORDANT MUSIC CAN ALSO TURN US INWARD</b></span></o:p></span></p><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Music can be a passive, receptive, sensory form of inner practice. According to the ancient Greeks: </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><i><b>Music could induce spiritual harmony in the soul. </b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><i><b>Be a form of communion with Divine truth. </b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><i><b><span>Enables us to </span><span>return</span><span> to the Divine region - a place once lost to humans. </span></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><i><b><span><br /></span></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-style: italic; text-align: start;">When we sin, we are without music without harmony.<br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-style: italic; text-align: start;">Rather control the modes of music in a city than its laws. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>Musical discord could distort the spirit, concord enable it. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>Ever since the Greeks until fairly recently music has been considered sacred and an attempt to mimic the voice of the Divine. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>The Greeks, the church and others felt that sound should follow a certain "objective moral order." </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>This is the reason classical music had and has such appeal. The great classical composers followed this idea. Pre-modernistic music kept these principles up until the last century when discordance, non-resonance, lack of harmony and even musical chaos became more popular. These vibrations do not create coherence or a peaceful inner state.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">GRATITUDE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i>Be grateful and you will be happy. Happiness leads to great empowerment. Attend to your well-being, especially to happiness, the cause of which is sometimes found in hidden recesses, always in gratitude.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>Gratitude can be a form of spiritual practice. Research has shown that gratitude induces a positive feedback loop. Gratitude leads to having more gratitude. Gratitude creates well being and </span><span style="text-align: center;">equanimity. Gratitude makes us happy and when we are happy we have more gratitude. </span><span>Gratitude can help us perform random acts of kindness and pay our </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">gratitude</span></span><span> forward.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span>F.M.R.I. studies have shown that a gratitude practice creates more neuronal activity in the prefrontal lobe of the brain somewhat similar to that seen in advanced practitioners of meditation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Give without remembering. </span></i></b><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Take without forgetting. </span></i></b><b style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Give freely. </span></i></b><b style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Receive openly. </span></i></b><b style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Do all with gratitude. </span></i></b><b style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">It is the <span>way of love</span>. </span></i></b><b style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">It is the way of joy.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Giving opens, <span>withholding closes. </span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">In giving is to receive and to welcome the other.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">We think that in the natural way of things, what we give lessens our supply. The soul does not work this way - with the <span>soul, giving increases.</span></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i>There is no joy as transforming as the joy of gratitude. Learn gratitude!</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i>Where there is gratitude there is light.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span>CONNECTING WITH YOUR GUIDES OR ANCESTORS AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>Those that are dead are never gone</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>They are there in the thickening shadow</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>The dead are not under the earth</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>They are there in the tree that rustles</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>They are in the wood that groans</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>They are in the water that sleeps</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>They are in the hut</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>They are in the crowd</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><i>The dead are not dead</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Bizago Diap (Mali poet)</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Our guides are there to assist us too. Love and gratitude with honest requests will engage them. Some unknown to us (so-called foreign ancestors in sangoma tradition) have been assigned specially to help us. Others come and go for maybe just one particular message or purpose. Still others may have been loved ones or ancestors in past lives. Love is the catalyst that helps them to cross the veil and connect in dreams or awake time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Just as conscious journaling can enable going inwards so too can connecting with our guides be considered spiritual practice. </span></div></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The law of free demands that we are very specific with exactly what we want. We may not think we are being heard or being helped but there is no time on the other side of the veil and things may evolve slowly. Because the delay we may fail to recognize that what we asked for we did receive. Since our guides are not time bound there may be a time lapse.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b style="text-align: start;"><i>Spirit guides are not subject to time or space as are we. They are always around but not always to be known, always within call but not always to be heard, always present but not always to be sensed, always holding us but not always to be felt.</i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="text-align: start;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;">It is worthwhile setting up an altar to your guides. Put their photos or names of your ancestors on it if you do not have a photo or a crystal to recognize a "foreign" ancestors whose name and sex you may not know. Any little article that reminds you of them such as a watch, a ring, a cup they used or a walking stick can embellish the altar. You can use or wear them to connect more strongly when the need arises. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;">If there are skeletons in the closet those spirits are best not recognized on your altar. You did not want them around when alive and may not either when they are dead. One, however, should forgive them, preferably using a meaningful ritual which has more traction in the spirit world.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;">Give them permission to send you messages or script your dreams. Commit a journal, recording device or smart phone to record the events. <span>Light a candle or incense or bring a small gifts of gratitude. Always keep them in mind.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;">Have a party for them and invite them into your life when you initiate the relationship. Celebrate their birthdays as well as their death days in some way.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></i></b></div></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p></span></span></div></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-34922782925016037772023-12-31T05:26:00.000-08:002023-12-31T05:26:17.790-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF #5</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">The Contents of these several Blogs are below. These are to delineate the crucial factors in the Search for the Self. The Brown color delineates what has been done so far.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: start;">ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS</span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: Calibri; text-align: start;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">SELF-REALIZATION or (“BECOMING”)</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">FREE WILL</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000;">IMPERMANENCE AND</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"> NON-ATTACHMENT</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">KARMA’S FIVE PRECEPTS</span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"> THE THREE DEADLIEST SINS OF KARMA</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">THE HERO/INE vs. THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE</span><br /><span style="color: #800180;">THE HEALING OF MEANING</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">DEATH - THE FINAL JOURNEY</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">SPIRITUAL PRACTICE – "FIELD" – SPIRIT GUIDES</span><br /><span style="color: #800180;">GRATITUDE</span><br /><span style="color: #800180;">LOVE - </span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">FORGIVENESS </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">ENERGY SYSTEMS</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">If you would wish for things to be other than they are do not try to change the things themselves but rather seek to change the circumstances that give rise to them, looking first to one's internal conditions for therein is where change in the external begins.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">A cedar tree does not spring from an acorn.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">THE HERO/INE vs. THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE</span><br /><span style="color: #800180;">THE HEALING OF MEANING</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">DEATH - THE FINAL JOURNEY</span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> THE HERO/INE'S JOURNEY - A QUEST FOR A VISION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Congruence and finding purpose</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">”I implore you to submit to your own myths. Any postponement in doing so is a lie.” </span><span>William Carlos Patterson</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>It is often an existential crisis which compels us to take this step towards congruence with who we truly are and can be.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Congruence</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Emotions and their expression match and behavior arises from the root of their being. They sing their own song and do not do things for others’ approval. I</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">ntellect, h</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">eart, s</span></i></b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">oul are congruent </i></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>"... care about others' opinions and you will be their prisoner."</i></b> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Tao</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Hero/ine’s journey is about f</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">inding our core or signature strength (Seligman) and our true purpose</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. This form of physical, mental and spiritual surrender is not a giving up of </span>anything<span style="font-family: inherit;"> but a giving in to something bigger than ourselves and then making something useful out of it. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Unless we are in service to others, we will not endure happiness and the more we focus on ourselves the more miserable we become.</span><span> </span><span>This is not an ethical judgment, but a fact of life that is fixed as a default into the fabric of the soul.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><i>"You make a living by what you get, </i><span><span><i>you</i></span></span></b><i><b> make a life by what you give."</b> </i><span>W. Churchill</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>The journey may feel like</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a sacrifice but is anything but one, when its comes to discovering one's destiny - a vital part of realizing Self. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>There is a difference between the warrior and the hero archetypes. The warrior keeps the "grail" for him/herself, the hero/ine gives the grail away. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>There are three distinct phases to the Hero/ine's journey. the Warrior fulfills only the first two stages. There are many Warriors, fewer Hero's. A</span></span><span>ll three phases of the Hero's journey involve fear as a catalyst for growth</span><span>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>Separation-Threshold-Incorporation</b> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Firstly we <b>Separate</b> from who we think we are. Secondly, in <b>Threshold,</b> we go through an ordeal where we encounter our physical, mental and spiritual fears. Thirdly we return to <b>Incorporate</b> any "Aha" experience or grail into some way in which we can give back. Ideally this involves using one's signature strength which later may slowly morph into our true destiny. Whatever you give back is positive karma yoga.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><i><span>“Whatever you are, be a good one.” </span></i></b><span>Abe Lincoln</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Nature is a preferred environment for the classical journey but anything can qualify if the essentials are honored. An encounter with any existential crisis can be a powerful impetus.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Incorporation can be be the most difficult of all the </span>phases<span style="font-family: inherit;"> since we tend to </span>slide<span style="font-family: inherit;"> back </span>into<span style="font-family: inherit;"> old familiar patterns.</span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Our role on earth is to correct injustices.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“We are here to help others. What on earth others are here for, I do not know.” </span></i></b><span>W. H. Auden</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>During Incorporation we discover and then use our core strength whether we get paid for it or not. Incorporation may dictate keeping our day jobs and the supply lines open so that we can be of help to others in our spare time. Karma does not allow for any excuses.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>This is just a brief outline but for more information you can refer to earlier blogs or other numerous texts.</span></span></p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>THE HEALING OF MEANING</b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #800180; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Once what you are living and what you are doing has for you </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">meaning</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> it is irrelevant whether you are happy or unhappy. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">You are content, you are not alone in your spirit, you belong</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">.” </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;">L. Van der Post</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;">Victor Frankl after being interned in a Nazi concentration camp wrote <o:p></o:p>Man’s Quest for Meaning. He found<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: inherit;"> that those inmates in the camp, that survived were able to imagine a purpose in life that gave them meaning. After being forcibly Separated and then experiencing a horrific Threshold they Incorporated their suffering into some form of finding purpose. Many found meaning in helping their fellow inmates. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: inherit;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><i><span>“We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.”</span></i></b><i style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><span> </span></i><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">G. K. Chesterton</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: inherit;">Others like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi were able to do the same and in spite of suffering severe hardships always maintained their vision for the future. They never lost site of incorporating their mission at some later date.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: inherit;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><i><span>“Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” </span></i></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">H. Thurman</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;">Seligman the father of positive psychology developed methods to enable others to find meaning, well being and happiness. These included</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> </span><span style="color: #800180;">using one's core or signature strengths to help others or something larger than oneself. He stated that accomplishment should not be pursued if it was meaningless. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;">Buddhism teaches us to take our suffering and make something useful out of it by helping others. Even if this is not in line with our destiny it becomes the path of karma yoga and will bring happiness.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><sup><span style="color: #800180;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><b><i><span style="color: #800180;">“Wherever you turn you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember you do not live in a world all of your own.” </span></i></b><span><span style="color: #800180;">A. Schweitzer</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span><span><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); text-align: start;">"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve."</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"> </span></i></b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">A. Schweitzer</span></p></div><div><br /></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b>DEATH CAN ALSO BE CONSIDERED THE HERO/INE'S FINAL JOURNEY</b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"</span><i style="font-weight: bold;">May</i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> the hero/ine awaken from </span><i style="font-weight: bold;">forgetfulness</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> and transcend all anxiety and sorrow." </i>The Upanishads</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Know before you go.</i></b></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Prepare for what you do not know.</i></b></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #800180;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Death asks not what have you but who are you. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #800180;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Life</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">’</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">s questions is not what have I but what am I.” </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #800180;">Swami Rama Tirtha</span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Living virtuously is to die gracefully. The only thing we take with us are our memories and our karma.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For many, even though subconscious, denied and put aside, death can be one of our greatest fears because it is an unknown, intimidating landscape. This does not have to be so. By studying ancient wisdoms we can learn that death is not final - the spirit moves on. The Zohar says we live in a one percent world and there is another 99% waiting to be discovered. We find some of that when we cross the veil between worlds to the other side - usually to one of the Astral realms. Preparing for death is preparing for our final "separation." </span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">Like any hero's journey we have to be sure we are well prepared. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">This is also the object of this series of blogs, to highlight the work that needs to be done so that death is only a path to a new and more expansive destination and not something to be feared. </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">In a sense the same three phases of the hero can also be applied to death.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">Separation: </b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">Prepare to separate from all attachments and reconcile any unfinished business. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">When we pass over it is critical that our karma is as intact as possible. Realizing our destiny or core strength and helping others is a vital part of this. </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">We need to have no unfinished business or skeletons in the closet that require forgiveness and reconciliation. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">If the slate is clean we should be able to go into an existential free fall without any attachments that can impede the journey. We need to have f</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">earless clarity without confusion otherwise we may not see the light or hear the ancestors calling us home. Our state of mind, which is also determined by our karma, will have a lot to do with which Astral vibration we inherit.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">Threshold.</b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"> N</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">avigating the earth bound plane skillfully so that we can pierce the veil and arrive in the vibration we have earned rather than a lesser one. Reconciling our karma on the other side with a spiritual tribunal and learning the errors of our ways. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span><b>Incorporating into the next lifetime.</b> Learning in the Astral who we are and need to be and what we did that was unskilful so that we can better navigate the next time around. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">We forget mostly everything we encountered on the other side if the veil when we reincarnate. However, we still have that knowledge resident in our soul which can be retrieved as long as we do not succumb to sentient challenges. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">S</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">ome will have earned a higher vibration in the Causal realm. They will have also found their true destiny. They do not need to reincarnate unless they choose to do so for a special mission. In other words, <i>as the sowed</i> - in prior life times' hero's journeys - <i>so they reaped.</i></span></p><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">For those that have a morbid fear of death there is hope of cure with the help of </span><span style="color: #800180;">entheogens - sacred, mind altering plants taken in ceremony under guidance which allow one to experience other realities other than those on the earth plane that limit our consciousness. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;">Stanislav Grof in the 60's found that after taking L.S.D. many participants no longer feared death. The F.D.A. has recently cleared the use of psilocybin for patients with refractor illnesses, anxiety or depression which are often associated with a morbid fear of death. The results have shown positive results.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;">Going on this inner journey can also be part of a hero's journey if the three phases are actualized.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: normal; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p></p></div></span></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-50018200178530098822023-12-20T05:14:00.000-08:002023-12-20T05:14:02.767-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE #4</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Again F.Y.I ... </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Contents of these several Blogs are below. These are to remind us of the crucial factors in the Search for the Self. The Brown color delineates what has been done so far.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS</span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SELF-REALIZATION or (“BECOMING”)</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">FREE WILL</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span>IMPERMANENCE AND</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span> NON-ATTACHMENT</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">KARMA’S FIVE PRECEPTS</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"> THE THREE DEADLIEST SINS OF KARMA</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>THE HERO/INE vs. THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE</span><br /><span>THE HEALING OF MEANING</span><br /><span>SPIRITUAL PRACTICE – "FIELD" – SPIRIT GUIDES</span><br /><span>GRATITUDE</span><br /><span>LOVE - </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">FORGIVENESS </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">REMEDIES AND QUICK FIXES</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE THREE DEADLIEST SINS OF KARMA </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Malice sucks up the greater part of </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">its own venom and poisons itself.” </span>Montaigne</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Sadly what goes around does not come around soon enough. Karma may only take hold in affecting the next </span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">lifetime.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Malice goes along with hatred, anger, envy and the desire for vengeance and retribution. Malice poisons too many people while it is only slowly poisoning itself. From the outset, however, it immediately poisons its Higher Self. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Most of us would like punishment to also happen to its physical self and quickly. Many perpetrators appear to get away with their murderous actions. Yes, the long arm of the law bends towards justice but that <b>"bending"</b> may not feel expeditious enough. This conundrum is also a test of our karmic resilience. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is worthwhile looking at the flip side of the search for the Higher Self - submitting to the Three Deadlines - which too many are falling victim to these days. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">These "Three" arise out of an Evil Inclination or Shadow infatuated by greed and power that wants to be infamous. Their Evil Inclination is in total control. The "Red Worm" dominates while the Blue Worm (Credo Mutwa see back) or Good Inclination slowly or rapidly dissipates. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">Sociopaths, b</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">orderline personalities and others may be captivated by these deadly attributes as are those who feel powerless and isolated in life.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">During these times when pure evil is on the rise we need to know the power of the Evil Tongue, fake facts and distortions of history that flood the media and go uncontested. A.I. has the power to facilitate this toxicity. Democracy is all well and good but evil should not have free reign in the media. Hitler nearly conquered the world through his rallies and the radio. Think what he could have done today!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“…people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">and if you repeat it frequently enough </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">people will sooner or later believe it.”</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;">Adolf Hitler</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hitler's main enemies were conscience and morality and his hatred of Jews made them the prototype and his arch enemy. However, his next target was going to be the Christians and others - much the same as the mantra of Islamic Jihad. Hitler admitted to being a barbarian.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“It is true we are barbarians. It is an honorary title to us. I am coming to free humanity from the shackles of the soul, from the degrading suffering caused by this false vision called conscience and morality. ...” </span><span style="text-align: start;">Adolf Hitler</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">GREED</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Greed is not stilled with money any more than thirst is with salt water.” </span>Ksemendra</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">POWER</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><b>“Nearly all men can stand adversity <br />but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.” </b><br /></span><span style="text-align: start;">A. Lincoln</span><span style="text-align: start;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">"<b>Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. </b><br /></span><span style="text-align: start;">Sir John Dalberg-Acton</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180;"> <br /></span><b><i><span style="color: #800180;">Given full power greed becomes an enslaver of the greedy <br />- fear becomes first a bully, <br />then a torturer </span></i></b></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span>and then a kille</span>r.</i></b></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">FAME/INFAMY</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There is absolutely no honor, righteousness or virtue in infamy. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;"><span face="-webkit-standard" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE THREE DEADLIES CAUSE TREMENDOUS SUFFERING ON THE PLANET AND ALSO AFFECT OUR OWN SEARCH FOR THE HIGHER SELF</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span>“If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.” </span></i></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Richard Rohr</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Those suffering from isolation, loneliness, powerlessness, hopelessness and a loss of any meaning in life become vulnerable to r</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">adicalization</span><span style="color: #800180;">.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"> Isolation seeks company, even if it is toxic. The powerless can ride on the coat tails of demonic leaders and feel strong.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">These "Three" cause soul sickness or soul loss. They are often induced by severe forms of abuse, addiction, and Satanic-like rites of passage u</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">sed by the Mafia, radical Islam, drug cartels and others.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> </span><span style="color: #800180;"> Drug cartels require their initiates to murder some innocent <span>bystander</span> in order to be admitted into the gang. </span><span style="color: #800180;">Satanism, witchcraft and sorcery are compelling attractions because of the significant power it can bring. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Islamic Jihad may be even more compelling because it pretends to be a religious ideology when it is really Satanic. When radical Islam shouts Allahu akba while killing the innocent they are invoking Satan not God. Murder induces soul loss. As the hit man talking to his initiate says in the movies; </span><i>" </i><span><span>The first one is difficult, after that it becomes easy." </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #800180;">Now the soul which is pure has checked out and it is even possible for demonic possession to take hold.</span></span><span style="color: #800180;"> These ideologies are strengthened by eliminating education and the access to truth. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Dictators hold power by control of the media and indoctrinating with lies. </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);"><span><span>Authoritarianism</span></span></span><span><span face=""Google Sans", arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86);"> </span><span> and dictatorship have a greed-power-infamy agenda. These two evils in the world; Islamic Jihad and authoritarianism are now merging together - </span><i>the enemy of my enemy is my friend - </i><span>at least until later. </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">Individual redemption is possible but unlikely and will require some form of a cathartic conversion experience or expert spiritual help.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Free will within the bounds of the law is the basis of democratic societies. Free will, the cosmic law, is defied by the Three Deadliest and the Higher Self becomes the victim. This can also be the case for those well-meaning people that become immersed in the pollution and develop a form of subtle PTSD.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is up to us on our search for Self to recognize this challenge outside of us and which is also within us. This can help us strengthen our resolve and our spiritual life when confronted with these apocalyptic events. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We need to call a spade a spade otherwise we are in danger of being complicit which will affect the trajectory of our search for Self. We can at least appose in thought, if not in action.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">“No matter how you stir a pot of filth it is always a pot of filth. Better to let the pot be and string pearls for the sake of heaven.” </span></i></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">C</span><span style="color: #800180;">hassidic saying</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-88668722908393055852023-12-16T12:22:00.000-08:002023-12-16T12:22:45.746-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE #3B</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">The Contents of these several Blogs are below. These are to delineate the crucial factors in the Search for the Self. The Brown color delineates what has been done so far.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; text-align: start;">ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS</span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: Calibri; text-align: start;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">SELF-REALIZATION or (“BECOMING”)</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">FREE WILL</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000;">IMPERMANENCE AND</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"> NON-ATTACHMENT</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">KARMA’S FIVE REQUIREMENTS</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #990000;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE A</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE B</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"> THE THREE DEADLIEST OF KARMA</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">THE HERO/INE vs. THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE</span><br /><span style="color: #800180;">THE HEALING OF MEANING</span><br /><span style="color: #800180;"> "FIELD" CREATOR, SPIRIT GUIDES</span><span>, </span><span style="color: #800180;">GRATITUDE</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">SPIRITUAL PRACTICE </span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #800180;">LOVE - </span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">FORGIVENESS </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b>ENERGY SYSTEMS</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b><br /></b></span></span></p></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE B &</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“The light of lights looks always on the motive, not the deed …, the shadow of shadows on the deed alone.” </span><span style="text-align: start;">W. B.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;">Yeats</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNZw19Y-MNJDb5UDoAUm7X717C-F7Vg3_Bln95jV7fyMvrE-y4l0EpNtj4_CDJiIkLnRj_XYtTCjRqZSuWBR3RSX4veRYqr6voADSZDjJI9-YHYGyxXRU3XdFDT6EcFTmp4ySJ1I57BeWzhCJwnUr48iJMRGT5j3nZ3CnuVV7BT4EIFgFI4YWfyhj7Bc/s1480/SOUL%20DYNAMICS.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1480" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNZw19Y-MNJDb5UDoAUm7X717C-F7Vg3_Bln95jV7fyMvrE-y4l0EpNtj4_CDJiIkLnRj_XYtTCjRqZSuWBR3RSX4veRYqr6voADSZDjJI9-YHYGyxXRU3XdFDT6EcFTmp4ySJ1I57BeWzhCJwnUr48iJMRGT5j3nZ3CnuVV7BT4EIFgFI4YWfyhj7Bc/w640-h406/SOUL%20DYNAMICS.png" width="640" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">(Refer to last week's blog for the above.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Free will determines our actions. We cannot say the Devil made us do it. The tricksters or dark forces will try their best to enhance and aggravate the red, negative factors above that hamper our spiritual life. Our guides and ancestors will, with our permission, assist us with the three purple ones which expand and make us more of who we are - not less - like the tricksters intend. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Both sides being non-local in space and time, know our weaknesses and strengths. The dark forces go for our vulnerabilities and the weakest links in our chains. They seemingly have an advantage because they do not abide by the cosmic law of free will, but love always overcome fear. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b>STORE CONSCIOUSNESS</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Store Consciousness </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">is a Buddhist concept which</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"> is embedded in our subconscious. It arises from the accumulation of both the good and bad experiences from our past lives which become a part of the soul’s unconscious memories. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The bad ones limit our soul’s traverse and reincarnations. We reincarnate into the family that can best challenge us so that we may overcome the unskillfulness of past actions. Negative Store Consciousness are the skeletons in the closets of our subconscious minds from prior incarnations which will surface every now and again. Negative Store Consciousness can be controlled by spiritual awareness, good actions and inner practice. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our positive past lives can help us remember spiritual truths that we forget when we reincarnate - but not entirely. They remain part of our "soulular memory." These remembrances can arise as a sense of de ja vu or the ability to grasp abstract spiritual concepts very easily due to a certain prior familiarity. We know much more than we think we know and are much more than we believe ourselves to be. We only have to recall what we have left behind in our prior existences. We have to be reminded of these past imprints just as we have to remind ourselves continually of these absolute spiritual truths which sometimes fade in our memories. The Ancestors teach; <i>with all your strength, get knowledge. </i> It is easier to recognize and absorb these when it already resides in “Store.” If Store is primed with only an Evil Inclination and only a “Red Worm” this can result in those afflicted, having only<span> </span>demonic intentions unless they find a way to redeem themselves. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span> </span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;">All three are actually a part of the </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: left;">self-cherishing</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">ego but it is helpful to separate them for emphasis and explanation. </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The challenge is relief from ego, how to be free from its tyranny. <br />The way is relief from ego, surrendering and releasing one’s instinct for protection and cultural conditioning; subduing its tyranny but with respectful and grateful acknowledgement for its appropriate worth. <br />The "prize" - the place of arrival - is relief from ego and a true sense of the pleasure of its place.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>EGO, DESIROUS ATTACHMENT AND JUDGMENT</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill, keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt, chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench, care about people</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">’</span><span style="text-align: start;"><b style="font-style: italic;">s approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back, the only way to sereni</b><i>t</i></span><span style="text-align: start;"><i>y.”</i></span><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;">Tao Te Ching</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><div><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b>EGO</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: medium;"></span></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />Do you listen with your heart or are you hearing with only your ego.<br />The possible peril is not a punishment, it is a consequence…</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="text-align: start;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“God cannot be realized if there is the slightest trace of pride.” </span><span style="text-align: start;">Upanishads</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="text-align: start;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being proud of one's knowledge and understanding can also be a manifestation of the small self. Pride indeed may come before a fall even if its only a fall from grace.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">”In seeking fame honor will be lost, in seeking knowledge wisdom is forgotten ...” </span>Hillel</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">As </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">fame</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> can enslave, so can the costs of money impoverish. Make sure the need is worth the price. To overpay can rob the Self.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><i style="text-align: start;"><b>Kabbalah teaches that humility is truthful acknowledgement about the wonders of yourself, taking appropriate credit for your part but recognizing God’s gifts to you. </b></i></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Give up owning things and being somebody. Quit existing.” </span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Rumi</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">Above Rumi talks both about ego as well as desirous attachment.</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">The yogis teach that actions bound to an ego motive can buy us another life time. We need to do things for their own sake alone.</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">Ego can be as slippery in its disguises as the shadow.</p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">Friend please tell me what I can do about this world I hold to and keep spinning out<br />I gave up sewn clothes and wore a robe but I noticed one day the cloth was well woven<br />So I bought some burlap but I still throw it elegantly over my left shoulder<br />I pulled back my sexual longings and now I discover I am angry a lot<br />I gave up rage and I notice I am greedy all day<br />I worked hard at dissolving the greed and now I am proud of myself<br />When the mind wants to break its link with the world it still holds onto one thing<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">Kabir</span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"> says </span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">“</span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">Listen friend, there are very few who find the path</span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">”</span></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b>DESIROUS ATTACHMENT</b> (attachment to the object of our desire)</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The desirous attachment in ego is always looking for next bright, shiny object. When it gets it, satisfaction is short lived until a better object comes along. Our financial system thrives on ego's wants and that it always want more. We need to avoid being trapped by our own ego nor </span>let<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the ego of others influence our own. </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Survival's law of Three (an approximation) tells us we can live three minutes without oxygen, three days without water, three weeks without food and three months without human contact (before we go a bit crazy.) If we were hunter-gatherers we would add to that, shelter and fire which today would be energy to drive all our electronics. Until we came along the hunter-gatherers were happy because they had all that they thought they needed. We cast them out of their </span>metaphoric<span style="font-family: inherit;"> garden of Eden experience with all our "stuff." Only then did their egos realize how much they did not have and not how much they had from the bounties nature provided.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“More possessions - more worry. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">More generosity - more peace. There is nothing wrong with possessions, only to being </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">possessed by them.”</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>Hillel</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">There is nothing wrong with desire, it is the attachment to that object that is the issue. It is the want that is our enemy and not the need. Our higher Selves should focus on our basic necessities and our wants should rather be those that help our spiritual transformation. </p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b>“</b><b style="font-style: italic;">Where there is too much, something is missing." </b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Chassidic Saying</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b style="font-style: italic;"> "Yes, the disguise of plenty. The Grail is not there.</b><b>” </b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>G.R. Kelley<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“… Abundance is not an achievement of the acquisitive but rather a legacy of the perceptive, a realization of plenty - not an acquiring of more.” </span>Hillel</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Keep to the source of living waters.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Do not think to store in cisterns; they will break and crumble and the water will be lost.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Cup your hands and drink deeply and often and you will have health and joy.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b>JUDGMENT</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"When you talk to people do not 'weigh' ... the soul of a person that weighs suffers harm." </i>The Talmud</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i>When you no longer need to be right the purity of your soul will shine through.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“When you see a worthy person endeavor to emulate him, when you see an unworthy person then examine your inner self.” </span><span style="text-align: start;">Confucius</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">In the chakra system of yoga, ego, the third chakra resides in the solar plexus together with desirous attachment and judgment. In Kabbalah's Tree of life. ego is a triad based on an attachment and non-attachment to ego and desirous attachment. Judgment is a higher order of challenge and is centered in the love triad balanced by judgment and mercy. Judgment is a harder nut to crack. The best we can do sometimes is to sweeten our judgments, judge the action and not the person and try to walk in his/her shoes.</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“This is what God asks of you, only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">walk humbly</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> with your God.” </span>Micah</p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b>The Three Triads of the Tree of Life </b></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b>Ego - Love - Becoming</b></p><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6my_LR_kGcpb7LglnNAu5zLNqwrUT7FBgIuzq7vqgj3vbrMVb_UQmc3lYG29z3cn6I-i3VLlzD8wm4cKaA7_zk87bBdpTpwlGYOhi51QcW7lEXym1QmNK3YJOP0MYilz2BevOgjMQKmswnJOz71dxBJHF9qd2eUxrahiLYfnpNOs3kebKauY9CT9Mbe4/s510/TOL%20triads.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="452" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6my_LR_kGcpb7LglnNAu5zLNqwrUT7FBgIuzq7vqgj3vbrMVb_UQmc3lYG29z3cn6I-i3VLlzD8wm4cKaA7_zk87bBdpTpwlGYOhi51QcW7lEXym1QmNK3YJOP0MYilz2BevOgjMQKmswnJOz71dxBJHF9qd2eUxrahiLYfnpNOs3kebKauY9CT9Mbe4/w568-h640/TOL%20triads.png" width="568" /></a></div><br /><p style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><br /></p><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></p></span></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-54820470164464084562023-12-08T11:26:00.000-08:002023-12-08T11:26:55.519-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> NAVIGATING THE APOCOLYPSE #3A</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Apologies for the repetition which is to remind us of the soul's complexities. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">The Contents of these several Blogs are below. These are to delineate the crucial factors in the Search for the Self. The Brown color delineates what has been done so far.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS</span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SELF-REALIZATION or (“BECOMING”)</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">FREE WILL</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span>IMPERMANENCE AND</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span> NON-ATTACHMENT</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">KARMA’S FIVE PRECEPTS </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"> THE THREE DEADLIEST OF KARMA</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>THE HERO/INE vs. THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE</span><br /><span>THE HEALING OF MEANING</span><br /><span> "FIELD" – CREATOR, SPIRIT GUIDES</span><span>, </span><span>GRATITUDE</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">SPIRITUAL PRACTICE </span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #800180;">LOVE - </span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">FORGIVENESS </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">ENERGY SYSTEMS</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span>“<i>All the talents of God are within you.<br /> How could this be otherwise when your soul is derived from His genes!”</i></span></b><i><span> </span></i><span>Hafiz<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“No human soul is like any other human soul, and therefore the love of God for any human soul is infinite, for no other soul can satisfy the same need in God.”</span></i></b><span><span><span> </span>W. B. </span></span><span>Yeats<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God’s love is not a test. God is not a test of love. Karma is the test. God loves us regardless - even more than a loving parent loves a son or daughter when they misbehave.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The soul's journey is intimately connected with its own, unique destiny (and no one else's.) To be complete we have to search for that and serve it to help others. This can be a lengthy process taking many life times. Mostly our wants rather than our needs and being in a sentient body enable us to go astray. An understanding of the soul's structure can help us on our journey.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“In every person there is something precious which is in no-one else. And so we should honor each for what is hidden within them for what only they have.”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i><span>Talmud<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">C.G. Jung</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The soul is pure and the soul is single. The soul is never split or parted. The soul, however can split from the body due to the unskillful machinations of our Shadow (Evil Inclination), Ego and Monkey mind. This can result in soul sickness or in extreme cases, soul loss. Ego, Monkey Mind and the Shadow all have their rolls and are necessary. They are not there to be eliminated but to be controlled and </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;">confined to their respective tasks which are centered around self-mastery and actualization of the lesser self. </span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> We are continually in a state of flux between Ego, Monkey (Narrow) Mind, and Shadow (Evil Inclination) versus the Higher Self, Big (or Spacious) Mind and our Good Inclination. We need to subordinate the former three to the latter three. Tricksters are usually present to enhance the dark. Our guides are there to facilitate the light - if we ask to receive. Hence there are eight variables to attend. For most of us beginning the journey. there are mainly six. As we ascend up the energy hierarchy we will start to encounter tricksters. We will need to invoke our guides for support because of the law of free will. A spirit guide practice with the help of an altar will </span>enable<span style="font-family: inherit;"> this connection. Tricksters </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;">come unbidden and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">disobey this cosmic law. They are there to sabotage our ascent to the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>light.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Our guides can facilitate the light and warn us about the tricksters. The best way to manage this flux is with spiritual practice and knowledge, as well as a spirit guide connection.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><i style="font-weight: bold;">“From the sound of my sighing has my essence </i>(soul) <i style="font-weight: bold;">cleaved onto my flesh </i>(body<i style="font-weight: bold;">.)”</i></span><i><span> </span></i><span>King David</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">The soul’s essence should lodge comfortably in the body.</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>The soul yearns to do the Creator’s will and clings to the body when all is well.</span></i></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>A body caught up in cravings and attached to sentient pleasures distances the soul.</span></i></b><span><b> </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">The soul withdraws causing bodily imbalance and sickness</i><i style="font-weight: bold;">.</i><span> </span><i style="font-weight: bold;">The body’s </i><span>(sentient, flesh)</span><i style="font-weight: bold;"> attachments need to be broken so the soul </i><span>(essence)</span><i style="font-weight: bold;"> can return to the body.</i><span> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">King David was first a shepherd. Before he became king he was nature bound and probably communed with God in the Creator’s masterpiece of wilderness. The “sound of sighing” is when we achieve equanimity and unity and we feel One with our Self (Soul) and our body and the Creator. Sensory, bodily oriented, active meditations can enable equanimity. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The soul's fulfillment is through the experience of the senses.<br />The soul's conversation is not of the mind. It is best heard with the senses.</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Africans say we pray by singing and dancing and there is a Chassidic saying that with song one can open the gates of heaven. Sacred chanting is another way to unite body and soul.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Shed and shie from what keeps the soul from joy.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span><o:p> </o:p></span><span>Soul sickness or loss occurs when the soul-<i>essence</i> separates from the body-</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"><i>flesh</i></span><span style="color: #800180;"> </span><span style="color: #800180;">because of the indiscriminate and irresponsible reveling of the body in the senses due to lack of control over Ego, Monkey Mind and Shadow. In other words, Samsara, which results in the continual cycle of death and rebirth.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">These six energies within us have to be managed. Three of them contract and are fear based and three expand and are love based. All six of them are essential for spiritual transformation. The negative however, must be subordinated to the positive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The three that contract, impede or constrain and are fear driven:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span>The small or lesser self or <b>Ego</b> which embellishes our Persona and the image we want to convey to others. The Buddhists call this self-cherishing with an emphasis on the small self.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span>Monkey (Narrow) Mind,</span></b><span> our survival instincts arising from the primitive brain creating our unskillful emotions and linked to our Sympathetic Flight or Fight response. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span>The Evil Inclination or the Shadow</span></b><span>.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Most are unaware of the wiles of the “evil inclination” </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">who is a master of disguises all appealing to our lesser self…</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Shadow is like a chameleon changing colors to disguise itself. It projects it's own darkness onto others and then blames them for what resides within itself. </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"S/he who cannot see themselves canot be redeeemed. We can only be redeemed to extent we can see ourselves." </b>The Talmud</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We have to be able to see our shadow to know where the light is coming from in order to embrace that.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“To confront a person with his own Shadow <br /></span></i></b><span>(Evil Inclination) <br /><b><i>Is to show him his own light.” </i></b>Carl Jung<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sometimes the bigger the shadow the more the light in term of the Good Inclination,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“The soul is like an orb inside which are two worms, one blue, the other red that move constantly. The blue represents good and the red, evil.<span> </span>These components balance the soul. A balance of the two is essential for all souls to exist. If there is only blue or good, the soul cannot long survive. If there is only red or evil the person deserves not to survive.” </span></i></b><span>Credo Mutwa, Zulu Sangoma or Sanusi (prophet or seer.)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“Between the idea and the reality, between the motion and <span> </span>the act – falls the Shadow. Between the conception and the creation, between the emotion and the response – falls the Shadow. Between the desire and the spasm, between the potency and the existence, between the essence and the descent – falls the Shadow.” </span></i></b><span>T.S. Eliot<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The shadow wants to project its own negativity onto others so that the ego can feel better about its little self. We would not be able to point fingers at another if those bad qualities were not part of our own Shadow. When we point, there are usually three fingers pointing back at us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>It is not the job of our good inclination to do away with our evil inclination nor to overcome it, but rather to balance and guide so that our drives, attitudes and instincts may support our soul's purpose.</span></i></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">While it is true that “Evil Inclination” is a collective name given to the drives and attitudes of our baser instincts, these instincts are necessary for our physical survival and while they can interfere with our spiritual growth and closeness to the Infinite One, it is the Creator who has put within us this inclination just as it is He/She who put within us the inclination to do good.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There is a Native American story about a grandfather talking to his grandson and explaining to him that in every person there are two wolves fighting for domination. The one wolf represents good and the other evil. The grandson asks his grandfather; “<i>which one wins?” </i>He replies; “<i>the one that you feed.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">In the figure below we can see the dynamic flux between, light and dark, expansion and contraction, love and fear, sacred and profane, good and evil </span><span style="color: #800180;">and between the purple and the red. The only way to handle the flux is through spiritual practice and understanding which will assist our free will in making skillful decisions.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><b><i>With all your </i></b></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b><i>strength, seek knowledge.</i></b></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-weight: bold;">"Only an ignorant person does not fear evil," </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"> Hillel</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNZw19Y-MNJDb5UDoAUm7X717C-F7Vg3_Bln95jV7fyMvrE-y4l0EpNtj4_CDJiIkLnRj_XYtTCjRqZSuWBR3RSX4veRYqr6voADSZDjJI9-YHYGyxXRU3XdFDT6EcFTmp4ySJ1I57BeWzhCJwnUr48iJMRGT5j3nZ3CnuVV7BT4EIFgFI4YWfyhj7Bc/s1480/SOUL%20DYNAMICS.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1480" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNZw19Y-MNJDb5UDoAUm7X717C-F7Vg3_Bln95jV7fyMvrE-y4l0EpNtj4_CDJiIkLnRj_XYtTCjRqZSuWBR3RSX4veRYqr6voADSZDjJI9-YHYGyxXRU3XdFDT6EcFTmp4ySJ1I57BeWzhCJwnUr48iJMRGT5j3nZ3CnuVV7BT4EIFgFI4YWfyhj7Bc/w640-h406/SOUL%20DYNAMICS.png" width="640" /></a></span></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>Action must continually be weighed against intent </span></i></b><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">to make sure it serves honesty and purpose.</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-10705744681008497772023-12-03T04:34:00.000-08:002023-12-03T04:46:54.588-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE #2</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The more we understand ancient spiritual truths and practice them the more equanimity we will have during these crazy times. The Buddhists teach that they are the true hedonists because they teach principles that make us happy. Many of us are looking for happiness in the wrong places. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #800180;">We need to keep reviewing and remembering these key truths below</span></span><span style="color: #800180;">. Repetition is important because so quickly we forget. We need to be constantly reminded about spiritual tenets or for that matter anything important. The mind gets bored with something already heard even if it has not been fully encompassed and embraced. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Being aware of the lesson is different from learning it. Knowing the path is different from following it.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This blog series is a bird's eye view of our seminal spiritual landscape. We need to keep looking at the map ahead so we do not get lost. <i>"If you don't know where you are going any road will take you there."</i></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;">After this series we will drill down on them in greater detail.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Each of the following stand alone and together they are a gestalt for the soul's <i>Becoming</i>. There are so many variables out there these days, both light and dark. The only ones we can control are those inside of us.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">I will use the same introduction each time so you know where we have been and where we are going. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">The journey is never finished and is a constant remembering and practicing. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: center;">The topics are listed below. </span>The ones colored brown will be where we have gone, the purple where we are going. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;">ABSOLUTE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS</span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SELF-REALIZATION or (“BECOMING”)</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">FREE WILL</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span>IMPERMANENCE AND</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span> NON-ATTACHMENT</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">KARMA’S FIVE PRECEPTS </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SOUL ARCHITECTURE</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"> THE THREE DEADLIEST SINS OF KARMA</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>THE HERO/INE vs. THE WARRIOR ARCHETYPE</span><br /><span>THE HEALING OF MEANING</span><br /><span>"FIELD," CREATOR, SPIRIT GUIDES, </span><span>GRATITUDE</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICE </span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #800180;">LOVE - </span></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">FORGIVENESS </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">ENERGY SYSTEMS</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">KARMA'S FIVE PRECEPTS</span></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Consequences are neither reward nor punishment, they simply are consequences - natural cause and effect, often not immediate but always inescapable.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Free will determines what we do in terms of our intentions, choices and actions. </span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Everyone can ultimately achieve the spiritual perfection for which we are created</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">This may take many life times because of free will.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Free will is always </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">neutral,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">motivated and catalyzed by </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">one’s desire.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">KARMA'S FIVE REQUIREMENTS</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Destiny</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“… Each soul makes two agreements upon entering the world. The first binds the individual to a distinct </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><i>destiny</i></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">that becomes the soul’s great project in life. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The second entangles each person in the limitations of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">fate and</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> responsibilities for family and community. While all second agreements can be renegotiated, the first is non-negotiable.” </span>Michael Meade</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Each of us has a unique talent to help the planet that no-one else has. Our work is to actualize it.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>The hunt for our destiny is the hunt of our lives; stick to the scent, stay on the spoor.</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God most delights when you are most you, when you are being most yourself. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“Everyone has in him/her something Divine, something his own, a chance of perfection and strength, however small, a sphere which God offers him to take or refuse. The task is to find, develop and use it.” </span><span style="text-align: start;">Sri </span><span style="text-align: start;">Aurobindo</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: start;"></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;">Our core strength which can enable our destiny is also linked to the Hero/ine's journey and the Healing of Meaning.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"To thine own Self be true." </i>W. Shakespeare</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;"><b><i>"Be true to your myth."</i></b> Joseph Campbell</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Subordinating Ego</span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“The Light of lights looks always on the motive, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">not the deed… the shadow of shadows, on the deed alone.” </span><span>W. B. </span><span>Yeats</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">All must be done for its own sake, not for reason of outcome. All is a journey and not a destination and is a continual arriving.</span></i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">The three deadly sins of karma are self-cherishing the persona (the small self,) desirous attachment and judgment which are also all part of the ego. These as well as the three most deadly sins of karma, greed power and </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">fame/infamy</span><span style="color: #800180;"> will follow later.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Good deeds bound to an ego motive have karmic consequences.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Emperor Wu asked, “I’ve built temples and ordained monastics; what merit is there in this?” Bodhidharma replied, “No merit.”</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our contributions to society are valuable but karmically neutral or even negative unless done for their own sake. Wu's contributions should have been anonymous for the sake of his karma.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Doing no harm (Ahimsa)</span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><b>“See yourself in others then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?” </b></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span>Dammapada</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here and you are out there.” </span><span>Roshi</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">Doing no harm to any of the Four Beings of </span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">nature - not just we Talking Beings is seminal to our karma.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"We all inter-are." </b>Thich Nhat Hanh</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span>The breath that is in all beings emanates from the Sacred Wellspring making us one - not the same.</span><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Love</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Love is the most universal, formidable and mysterious of all the cosmic forces.”</span><span></span><span>de Chardin</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Love your neighbor as yourself is not a sentiment or an emotion but a commitment to seeing the divine essence in every human no matter how difficult that is. It does not mean we have to like them or have anything to do with them except maybe offering a helping hand in the moment if needed.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><b><i>"We are all in the same boat in a </i><i>stormy</i><i> sea and we owe each other a terrible </i></b></span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b style="font-style: italic;">loyalty." </b><span>G. K. </span>Chesterton</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If the law does not serve love do not serve the law.</span></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Joy</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">"Everyone will be called to account for all the legitimate pleasures they failed to enjoy." </span></i></b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">The Talmud</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Savor the moments, good or bad - the bad - for the lessons they can teach us.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Indifference to the sublime wonder of living is the root of sin“ </span>Joshua Heschel<br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>"<i>Joy is not incidental to your spiritual practice, it is vital." </i></b></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rev Nachman</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” </span>de Chardin</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Joy is an in the moment, exuberant, sensory experience that is difficult for many of us to attain except in rare instances. Rather it is usually about happiness, harmony, equanimity, balance, serenity, well being, all of which can and should be associated with gratitude. </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">According to Daniel </span><span style="color: #800180;">Kahanaman joy is </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">part of the <b>Experiencing Self.</b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;">Happiness on the other hand is often more of an evaluation of past, present and potentially predictable future events and how they feel. He calls this <b>Synthetic Happiness </b>which is part of the </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"><b>Remembering Self</b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"><b> </b>as well as our </span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;"><b>Psychological immune system.</b> </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;">Synthetic Happiness also has a <b>Reset point. </b> One bad event can spoil the happiness factor resident in the Remembering Self. He also claims that the last thing that happens to us is what will be recalled and hence it is essential to reset, reframe, reverse and replace this memory with a happy one - walking on the beach, chatting to a good friend, watching a funny movie etc. This information is critical to the times we find ourselves in now. Moreover, if we have watched toxic news or violent movies we may want</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> to </span><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;">"cleanse" ourselves of them afterwards.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;">Using the senses (responsibly) for this is helpful. This is why the Ancestors are in favor of an embodied sensory </span><span style="color: #800180;">practice; dancing, playing a musical instrument, yoga, singing, chanting bhajans or kirtans etc.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The route to God is through the senses. From my flesh will I behold the Divine.</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-size-adjust: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-27973473156244858882023-11-24T08:05:00.000-08:002023-11-24T12:00:25.537-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <span> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> NAVIGATING THE APOCALYPSE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"People are like tea bags, you only know how strong they are when you put them in hot water." </b>Unknown</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>This is a large topic which includes a lot of other topics, many of which I have covered over the years in greater detail than I will in this series of blogs. I will highlight them </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">briefly</span><span> to remind and urge us to manage them especially during these crazy times. We need not to let what is happening on the planet get the better of us. There is always an opportunity in every crisis if we look for it. Every challenge we face may not be a "problem" - or worse still a crisis - but rather </span><i>grist for the mill </i><span>to make us stronger. The Buddhists look at adversity as tests of their spiritual fortitude. Especially during these troubled times we need to enhance our inner resources and find ways to maintain our equanimity and </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">maintain</span></span><span><span> our spiritual vibration is spite of the negatives around us. C</span>ommitting<span> to a spiritual life can help allay our stresses and fears. </span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">There are only two feelings, love and fear and there are so many troubling variables "out there" pushing us towards fear. Fear can result from the following; threat to life, limb, organ or function, religious or superstitious, fear of the occult and the unknown, social and threats to the ego or one's persona (shame being the most severe.) Religious fanaticism in Jihad is threatening our existence and is bent on eventually getting rid of all infidels unless they buy into Sharia law. <span>A<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); text-align: start;">uthoritarianism</span></span> is doing the same to control for different reasons. They are both about barbarism, power and greed. These </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">together with other planetary disturbances</span><span style="color: #800180;"> threaten us and cause stress and fear. What we need to strive for is eustress. Finding the light in the adversity - turning the crap into manure. A spiritual life can help us do so.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Balance is achieved by harmonizing polarities. Dualities come into harmony by negotiating a third or middle path, </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">a path not of assimilation but a path of coexistence.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;">We have to find the balance between the sacred and the profane, the light and the dark, the good and the evil, the positive and the negative, There can be no growth without conflict. It is all part of some grand mystical and mysterious conundrum. We cannot have one without the other. There is no rose without a thorn. When the dark overwhelms we need to bring in more light.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: start;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE SEARCH FOR THE SELF</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The search for the Self, the real Self, the True Self, the Soul, or that perfection made in the image of the Creator should be at the core of all human motivation whether we know it or not or strive for it or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">“Before the soul enters this world it is conducted through all worlds. Last of all it is shown the first light which when the world was created illuminated all things and which God removed when mankind grew corrupt. Why is the soul shown this light? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">So that from that hour on it may yearn to attain the light and approach it rung by rung.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>That light is the soul coming into full recognition of its-Self and that it is pure light. Unity consciousness - being one with the Infinite One. Those that have had Near Death Experiences seem to have encountered that same light - which is pure love. They are never the same afterwards and they </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">yearn to attain the light and approach it rung by rung. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">We need to do the same.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="text-align: start;">The journey itself is the place of being, it is never finished; the being is always becoming. The road to this place is the road of </span><span style="text-align: start;">surrender.</span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: start;"></span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>SELF REALIZATION, ENLIGHTENMENT OR THE PROCESS OF "BECOMING"</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>The process of becoming is a journey and not a destination.</i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span> "Kabir says, friend, there are very few who find the way.”</span></i></b><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The gates are wide but few will enter.</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b>FREE WILL - THE COSMIC LAW</b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">"Becoming" may take many life times because of free will.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">Free will is always </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">neutral,</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;">motivated and catalyzed by <br />one’s own desire.<br />You cannot say, the devil made me do it.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One needs to rise to a certain level of excellence to achieve "Enlightenment." Spiritual perfection is a state of impossibility. Hence the Ancestors prefer the word “Becoming” to that of Self-Realization or Enlightenment which may assume a fixed point. There is always another level of vibration to realize above the one that we have attained. Once a certain level of excellence is fulfilled, we are no longer required to continue on the journey of “samsara,” the cycle of death, reincarnation and rebirth with its mundane existence and suffering. Without the tension delivered in the multitude of polarities around us there would be no challenge and no possibility for Becoming. Our challenge is the gift of living in a sentient body. When we go to the other side, the spirit lives on but we drop the physical body and we are no longer confined to the senses. Being sentient is a gift. Managing it responsibly - so as not to pollute the soul which is pure - is the challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><b style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>… I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”</span></i></b><span> William Ernest Henley<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p>With all your </o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;">strength get knowledge.</span></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>IMPERMANENCE</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"A net is spread out for the living. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Everything is given on loan </span><span>(impermanent)</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> and</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> all is preparation for a grand celebration.” </span><span>Rev </span><span>Akiva</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Do not think to store in cisterns for they will crumble, and the water will be lost.</i></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Everything is already in the process of being broken so we need to enjoy it without attachment. Savor all the moments, even the bad ones for the lessons they bring. Joy or happiness is an imperative for our karma. To actualize the moments karmically we need to savor them. We are here to take pleasure but to do so responsibly. This is why the Ancestors are in favor of a sensory driven spiritual practice.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If we think of ourselves paddling our sentient body in a canoe down the river of life eventually heading to the other side across the veil, we can consider the two banks representing Attachment and Non-Attachment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: center;">If we touch up against the bank of pleasure, joy and happiness we should be in the moment, enjoy it fully and then push back into midstream. When we end up on the bank of pain, suffering and misery we should, by all the methods given to us by the sages, look for the learning opportunities and head back to midstream with equanimity. We never set up camp or become attached to either bank.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Harrison Owen's rules of non-attachment can help us.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>“Whoever are present are the right people.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>Whenever it begins is the right time.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When it’s over – it’s over.”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>KARMA and FREE WILL</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The results of cause and effect are often not immediate because they would influence free will.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Karma is about spiritual merit, not material achievement. The law of cause and effect is about accountability and the spiritual consequences thereof. About how we do things? Out of love and for their own sake or out of fear and for an agenda. The yogis say that any motivation bound to an ego motive will buy us another life time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When we eventually cross over the veil between worlds to the Astral realms (there are multiple vibrations and possibilities) we will have to account for our deeds to a Spiritual Tribunal. This is not judgment day but as we sew so we reap. We are lovingly shown the errors of our ways which determine our next incarnation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The laws of Karma which will be covered in the next blog arise out of Five Imperatives: </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Fulfilling our destiny. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Correcting injustice and helping the planet.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Doing no harm to any of the Four Beings of nature. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Subordinating ego to the Higher Self.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Love. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Experiencing the joy of living, </span><span style="font-size: large;">having gratitude and savoring the moments.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We are continually being tested - not about how much we know or how well we perform but that <span>our trust, our love and our faith </span>are being always tested at unexpected times in often unrecognized guises…</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; widows: auto;"><br /></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-33802063966625289422023-11-19T05:26:00.000-08:002023-11-19T05:26:37.596-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Apologies, readers. Due to foreseen circumstances there will be no blog this week. See you next week.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Happy Thanksgiving,</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Dave</span></b></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-79310493951575592382023-11-12T10:27:00.000-08:002023-11-12T10:27:56.223-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>MANIFESTATIONS AND EFFECTS OF AN ONGOING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God is a persistent lover wooing us with many pleasures,<br />lavishing endless grace, wanting our delight, hoping for our trust.</span></i></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The process of Becoming is a journey not a destination.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One only needs to rise to a certain level of excellence to inherit the "Pure Land of the Buddha", because spiritual perfection is a state of impossibility. Hence the Ancestors prefer the word “Becoming” to that of Self-Realization or Enlightenment which may assume a fixed point. There is always another level of vibration to realize above the one that we have attained. Once a certain level of excellence is fulfilled, we are no longer required to continue on the journey of “samsara,” the cycle of death, reincarnation and rebirth as well as our mundane existence and it’s suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Without the tension provided in the multitude of polarities around us there would be no challenge and no possibility for enlightenment. There can be no growth without conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">THE FIELD</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“Whatever being comes to be, be it motionless or moving, derives its being from Field and Knower </span></i></b><span>(the Creator) <b><i>of the Field. Know this!”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Bhagavad Gita<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“Out there beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing there is a Field. I will meet you there.”</span></i></b><span> Rumi</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> <b>With time and dedication, transformation can slowly occur</b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></i></b><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Time, space and matter comprise our physical universe and the source of power lies beyond the material, beyond time, space and matter.<br />Walk the path with awareness of both the something and the nothing, of the realm of what is sensed and known and the realm of what is neither sensed nor known.<br />Each experience of this awareness is a moment between moments, a dancing in the mystery of the void….where one encounters the Source of spiritual power.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Spiritual practice should help us find our mission, purpose and destiny or our own unique core strength or archetype. This is at the heart of the hero/ine’s journey.</span><span> <span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">If we lose our self, as in the little self or ego, we can find our Self as in the Big or True Self. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Connecting with Self is not selfish – quite the contrary. It will lead us to better serving others with our core skills.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></b><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">You must free yourself to be your Self.<br />Do not be captive to the demands of false duty.</span></i></b><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Release yourself from what you are not accountable.</span></i></b><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Be attentive only to the responsibility of what compels.<br />Bestow blessings, refuse burdens.<br />What makes you beholden enslaves you.<br />What makes you grateful blesses you.<br />What you touch, touches you. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>What you let touch you, enhances or diminishes. </i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>Anything or anybody who does not make you more of who you are makes you less of who you are.</i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>In summary these these qualities may be slowly evolving.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Subordinating Ego, Shadow, Monkey Mind</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Non-attachment to the material</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Forgiveness-Compassion-Empathy-Lo</span></span><span><span style="font-size: large;">ve</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Surrender-Trust-</span><span>Congruence with one's True Self</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Gratitude-Joy-Meaning</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Equanimity-Oneness</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Being-Becoming-Awakening</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Kundalini and </span><span>Contact with the “Field”</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-indent: 0in;">Connection with Self/Soul-Destiny-Guides-Scripted Dreams</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">As one’s practice deepens, we rise up the Tree of Life or the Chakra hierarchy and our vibration increases as follows. Initially we temper our fears and our lower survival, energy centers.</span><span style="color: #800180;"> </span><span style="color: #800180;">We begin to experience increasing levels of humility as we subordinate ego and become non-attached to the material or the persona.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then we encompass more love, compassion, empathy, gratitude and have the ability to see the divine in others, as we open our hearts. We "Sweeten" our judgments and when we judge, we judge the action and not the person.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;">Wisdom without love will not get us to Keter or the Crown chakra.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>If you declare your heart, whatever it is, and follow its course however inexplicable it may seem, all that you truly want will fall into the flow. This may not be necessarily be as you would arrange it or even like it to be but look for it to manifest, for it surely will.</i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Determine well the heart’s true desire for in releasing the power of your motivation its energies will actualize the holiness or unholiness of your intent.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Eventually we become more truly expressive of our real Selves and whichever gift or quality we possess to ideally get in touch with our destiny path.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lastly striving for the Crown we develop more intuitive powers from the Third Eye or the sephirah of wisdom. We subordinate doubt, denial, resignation, detachment and hopelessness to hope, faith, belief, trust and surrender and even develop a personal connection to the Infinite One. Equanimity, happiness, joy and gratitude are key to the path.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">""Joy is not incidental to your </i><i style="font-weight: bold;">spiritual</i><i style="font-weight: bold;"> path it is vital." </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Rev Nachman</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You have only to delight yourselves in the Creator and S/He will give you the desires of your heart - that is - the desire of His.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Teilhard de Chardin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>Any who bring joy to another, give God joy. Any who act with love for the other's good and pleasure do themselves partake in God’s rivers of pleasure and good.</span></i></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our soul is made for joy and the more we truly love the more we will experience it and become its very essence.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">The yogis describe the phenomenon of the Oneness Experience or Unity </span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">Consciousness where the Knower, the Known and the Process of Knowing fuse and become one thing. This is similar to Kabbalah's Union with the Divine. For most of us it occurs very briefly when we become the dance, the song or the rainbow we are viewing. These are signs we are heading in the right direction. They come through grace. Maslow called them Peak Experiences. These mystical sensations can occur with:</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;">Meditation, Solitude </span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Music, dance, drumming, art</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Body work </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In Nature</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Shamanic rituals,</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-indent: 0in;">Entheogens</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Orgasm</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Childbirth</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Scientific discovery </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">et al ...</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The following paranormal phenomena may occur in order of difficulty but they are not essential and can lead to arrogance, fortifying the ego. They can mislead us into the path of using spiritual power for material gain. The yogis teach that they can be a trap rather than a blessing.</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Synchronicity</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Coherence</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Superfluidity or being in the flow or the "zone"</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Precognition</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Telepathy</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">Remote or distant "seeing" or "</span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">viewing" (diagnosis of illness)</span></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;">Remote or distant healing or curing</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;">Telekinesis</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Receiving scripted dreams or downloads during awake time from guides</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Trance-channeling</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">No person, no matter how adept will have all or even many of these. Each to his or her own. We need to find the one that will best connect us across the veil to our helpers who know who and what we are. It is a waist of time trying to develop skills that are not part and parcel of our core spiritual strengths. Some may have paranormal skills that differ from these above but are just as powerful spiritually. Its not about power<span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"> but how we can best heal the planet.</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"We are here to help others, what on earth others are here for I do not know." </i><span>W. H. </span>Auden</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span>“<i>Our thoughts, words and actions impact all creation and have the potential for raising holy sparks. These sparks are contained in husks and our task is to release them.” </i></span></b><span>Isaac Luria<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;">Ari the great Kabbalist taught that the Holy Sparks surrounding the soul need to be liberated from the husks of negativity containing them that are everywhere. These sparks are inherent in everything we do, eat drink, in the tools we use and the work we do. It's all about being consciously aware and practicing random acts of kindness in our daily lives.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Ancestors endorse a sensory spiritual practice (sing, dance, drum, walk in nature etc) because...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The strength of the forces of holiness and the destruction of the shells or husks that imprison holy sparks depends upon joy.</span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rev Nachman<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="text-align: start;"><b>Equanimity is believing that God is present in everything we do and in so believing, while it does not change what we do, it does change how we feel about it. We do it with greater reverence, gratitude and joy because we trust in and are aware of God's presence.</b></i></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-16886116817025158112023-11-05T05:19:00.002-08:002023-11-05T05:19:44.419-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"CONVERSATIONS" WITH THE CREATOR<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SOUL SPEAK<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SOUL<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">We are all made in the image of the Divine, with a pure soul. We see this in the innocence of a child before they become </span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">acculturated. We are a microscopic chip of the Creator, a tiny holographic imprint of the Supreme Being. Each one of us is important and has meaning in the grand scope of the cosmos.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“Before the soul enters this world it is conducted through all worlds. Last of all it is shown the first light which when the world was created illuminated all things and which God removed when humankind grew corrupt. Why is the soul shown this light? So that from that hour on it may yearn to attain the light and approach it rung by rung.” </span></i></b><span>Talmud<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>The Talmud is referring to the rungs on the “ladder” of the Tree of Life. </span><span>Our purpose is to get to the Crown or Keter and find our true place with the Creator; </span><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span>“I am that I am”</span> </i><span><span>i.e. </span></span><span>coming into direct recognition that we are made in the image of the Divine - a form of Union with the Infinite One or the Unity Consciousness - the Oneness Experience or non </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">duality in Yoga</span><i style="font-weight: bold;">. </i>Words <span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">cannot</span> explain. My sense is that <span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">everyones</span>' experience will be different.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><span>“<i>All the talents of God are within you.<br /> How could this be otherwise when your soul is derived from His genes!” </i></span></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">Hafiz</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The light of the Creator brought forth in the instant of creation shines into time and timelessness and space and spacelessness. This light is beheld by the soul and compels full knowledge of itself but is usually hidden behind the glitter of what attracts ego.</span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“In every person there is something precious which is in no-one else. And so we should honor each for what is hidden within them for what only they have.” </span></i></b><span>Talmud<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“… Each soul makes Two agreements upon entering the world. The first binds the individual to a distinct </span></i></b><b><span><i>destiny</i></span></b><b><i><span> that becomes the soul’s great project in life. </span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><b style="font-style: italic;">The second entangles each person in the limitations of </b><b><i>f</i></b></span><span><b><i>ate</i> </b></span><b><i><span>and responsibilities for family and community. While all second agreements can be renegotiated, the first is non-negotiable.” </span></i></b><b><span></span></b><span>Michael Meade<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Negotiating the rungs should also ideally be tied to that unique destiny given to us by the Creator so that we can help to perfect His/Her creation. This is about giving of ourselves. By doing this we increase our divine given capacity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We think that in the natural way of things, what we give lessens our supply. The soul does not work this way - with the soul, giving increases.</span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“The souls of people on their way to earth-life pass through a room full of lights. Each takes a taper, often only a spark to guide it in the dim country of this world. But some souls by rare fortune are detained longer and have time to grasp a handful of tapers which they weave into a torch. </span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>These are the torchbearers of humanity – its poets, seers and saints who lead and lift the race out of darkness towards the light. They are the law givers and saviors, the light bringers, way showers and truth tellers and without them humanity would lose its way in the dark.” </span></i></b><span>Plato<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Many of these light bearers are the ones who help us navigate our spiritual transformations.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We are all made in the image of the Supreme Being and each one of us has a special task to do in order to heal the world (Tikun Olam in Kabbalah.) This is the basis of Karma (service oriented) yoga - what we can each do for any or all of the Four Beings of Natures - Still, Growing, Wild (includes domestic beings that were once wild) and the Talking Beings. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“The worship most pleasing to God is service to others.”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i><span>L. Boff</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">"We are on earth to help others; what on earth others are here for, I do not know." </b>W.H. Auden</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: center;">In connecting with the breath we can connect with the Creator. The soul and the breath are pure. The energies that surround the soul such as; ego, monkey mind and shadow may not be pure. These can repel the soul or divorce it from the sentient body, if our intention, choices, and actions are impure. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“The soul is pure …”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i><span>Rev Nachman<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span>“…What is God? The breath inside the breath.” </span></i></b><span>Kabir</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Source of my power the breath you have given me, the breath you have given me is pure.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Flame of the Infinite One is the Soul Breath of the human.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>A river arose out of Eden forming Four Rivers and Four Winds which animate all of creation.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></b><span>The Zohar<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The breath that is in all beings emanates from the sacred well-spring forming a singular spirit which animates all creation.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Infinite One wants a personal relationship with us all. It is said that God is playing hide and seek but no-one wants to play because the rules, though simple, are difficult. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"Search for me and you will find me, </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">seek me with all your heart and I will let you find me." </i>Jeremiah</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>It will be given to you according to; </i></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>the measure of your humility, </i></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>the </i><i>measure</i><i> of your love </i></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>and the measure of your faith. </i></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>You will be filled according to your emptiness.</i><br /><i>The doorway to presence is openness.</i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You are much more than you know but only what you have learned with your heart does God manifest in you.<br />You are a wave of God's ocean, a ray of His/Her sunlight, alive with His breath.<br />It is not enough for you to know your source and substance.<br />You must be the source and substance.<br />This is your soul's wisdom that surpasses all understanding.</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God's "voice" is heard in stillness - in a receptive, silent, inner, meditative state. It is not heard as a trumpeting sound but like a whisper on the wind. We are all capable of hearing it depending on the level of our vibration. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If we are doing God's work we are connected to Him - known or unknown, present or felt to be absent - we are not alone.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>The life breath of the human is the Flame of the Infinite One searching through the chambers of our core</span></i></b><b><span>.</span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-59235978606687525462023-10-28T05:51:00.000-07:002023-10-28T05:51:10.833-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">UNCONVENTIONAL FORMS OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span> </span></i></b><b style="background-color: white;"><span>SPIRIT GUIDES</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">SPIRIT GUIDES </span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: 14.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Spirit guides are not subject to time or space as are we. <br />They are always around but not always to be known,<br />always within call but not always to be heard,<br />always present but not always to be sensed,<br />always holding us but not always to be felt.</span></i></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>The Ancestors cannot save but only alert, advise and warn and only according to your openness and willingness. They cannot change or deter you from your own insistency no matter to what it’s due. Only you can change!</span></i></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">In my sangoma practice readings the "bones" often say to folks who come for guidance that their spiritual practice is lacking. Many of them have profound ways of going inwards; meditation, Tai Chi, prayer, journaling etc. However, when it comes to connecting with their ancestors or guides they are found wanting. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Why wouldn't this also be a way of downloading information from the spirit world? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">I remember my sangoma mentor telling me; <i>"The trouble with Westerners is that they have forgotten that they have guides to help them. When they pay them no attention they turn away and then they become like papers blowing in the wind, unsupported in life."</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">The terms ancestors and spirit guides can be used interchangeably.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Many of our guides were our ancestors in past lives. Others may be appointed to help us with our spiritual trajectory both in and outside of dreams.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">We are not just influences but also recipients of influences from distant places and distant times.</span></i></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Artists, musicians and others have their muses. Some call this “narrator” their alter ego when in actual fact “s/he” might be a guide. Guides, ancestors and "muses" can connect to us from the other side of the veil between worlds. They can help us by scripting our dreams and even downloading information in awake time. </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">Free will allows us to choose whether to see or not and to listen or not. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">Our guides can help us with our choices.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><b>The choices are yours and there are consequences to your choices. <br />Consequences are neither reward nor punishment; they simply are consequences, often not immediate but always inescapable…</b></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Southern African tradition believes there are also non-human spirits - both good and bad. These include; Terrestrial, Cosmic and Water Spirits that can also be of assistance to us Talking Beings. The Water Spirit is key in sangoma initiation. Terrestrial spirits may include the Still, Growing and Wild Beings all of which are animated by the breath of the Supreme Being and have their own individual vibration and consciousness. They are all there to assist us. For instance sacred stones or metals and crystals in talismans, plants to help us heal and power animals to strengthen us. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Most of the guides we will encounter are in the Astral realms where they are reconciling with their karma. We all have guides - many who may have loved us in past lives, and would like to help us now. </span></span><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">According to sangoma wisdom we also have “foreign” guides – not from our past lives that can also be </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">assigned</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> to help us. The African guide who helps me in my divination practice was a sangoma in her past life. She is a “foreign” guide unknown to me in previous lifetimes.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">The Astral is where we go to reconcile with our karma. Once in the Astral, spirits loose their free will and now can only operate through the free will of another living being on the earth plane. In this way they can complete work they never completed in their lifetime and do service to improve their karmic profile for the next incarnation. By allowing them to help us, we lift them up. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: normal;">Perfected souls exist in the Causal realms. They retain free will, can operate independently and do not have to reincarnate unless they choose to for a special mission. Some of us have guides in these realms as well. A few also may have angelic visitations.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">When we fail to engage with them at all they move away and we become spiritually unprotected. They may, however, occasionaly show up in life threatening, emergency situations. An ongoing connection is required for any relationship to be sound just like it is in real time. They cannot be taken for granted.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">“In every person there is something precious which is in no-one else. And so, we should honor each for what is hidden within them for what only they have.”</span></i></b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Talmud</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Once in the Astral, </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">spirits undergo </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">a reconciliation process with a spiritual tribunal. Following this they become well aware of what their own core strengths were and whether they realized them or not. Of course when they reincarnate again this direct knowledge is incompletely retained.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> Our guides may have gone down the wrong road and do not want us to make the karmic mistakes that they may have made. </span>They are there to help guide us to our God given destiny within the bounds of spiritual laws especially free will. </span></span><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Our guides have access to our Book of Life and also know what our talents are, and</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">what our life's purpose should be</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">. However, t</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">hey cannot tell us who we are - we have to find that out for ourselves. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Spiritual laws are operative whether or not we understand them or can explain them or whether or not we even know about them or believe in them.</span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Because of the cosmic law of free will we must ask to receive and we must ask very specifically. Our guides live in the present moment and for them free will is also in that present moment. </span></span>They are dwelling in a non-time-space reality bound by the law off free will. They live in the present moment and for them free will is also in the present moment. Hence they require us to maintain, sustain and repeat our requests. They want to know know how committed or fickle we are. Will we changed our minds? <span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Hence it is best to keep affirming the requests we make to them. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Our guides are there to help us with our karma but require us to be in integrity or they will move away. </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">The way this is more </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">powerfully</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> done is through a </span><b style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><i>Container</i></b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> for our prayers and solicitations. Essentially a container is a ritual which has more traction than a simple request since it requires more intention and attention to detail. The "Field" responds with vigor to our intentions depending also on our will, passion and courage. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span> </span></b><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“The sages who have died are present in this world to a greater extent than when they were alive.”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i><span>The Zohar<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">We are watching from endless space</span></i></b><b><span><br /><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">We are waiting in timeless order</span></i><br /><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Chant your way across the Veil </span></i><br /><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Spiral into existence those spirits that are needed.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span>Nurturing a Connection with One’s Spirit Guides with the Help of an Altar. </span></b><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>An altar is a powerful “container” and can also be a sacred space to connect us with our guides. Here, we can also ask to receive – as well as give thanks when we do receive. Lay down a white cloth </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">that is new, or special and attractive </span>on any surface. Embellish the altar with their photos or mementos which hold their energy such as <span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">a walking stick, their favorite book, a </span>ring, a cup etc. <span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">If you do not have a photo write down the name. If you have a guide but no name, allocate an object such as a crystal on his/her behalf. If you have an image from a dream, sketch, draw or paint it. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Dedicate a dream journal or a recording device for their messages and take it to bed with you. Your smart phone can be used as well. </span>Make offerings, light a candle or incense, bring gifts from time to time – a feather, an attractive pebble picked up on a hike. Always have them in mind.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Gratitude and love are how we help them.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">It is best not putting any “skeletons from the family closet” on your altar unless resolution with them has been perfectly made and even then, you may not want that energy around you. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><b>The Ancestors cannot help you with anything you have not freely, willingly and deliberately given up.</b></span></i><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">To connect with our spirit guides for help in a particular line of work one can create a sacred space in which to ask to receive. Open it formally by drumming, rattling, or lighting a candle or incense. Requests will be more easily received and acted upon if made for the greater good rather than for ourselves. If it is for ourselves, it should also be in order to help the greater good. </span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><b style="letter-spacing: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">You should wish for yourself not what you want but that what you want is for your good and that of others too.</span></i></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">For those doing healing or spiritual work, if feasible, it is best to have a dedicated sacred space to invoke one’s guides. Open the space to invite them in and formally close it giving thanks when the work is complete. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">The ancients would ask of you to perform good deeds, speak good words and think good thoughts in their memory.<br />They would want you to be a repository of their instructions, or other wisdom teachers, and their righteous and loving ways.</span></i></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Celebrate their birthdays and honor the days of their death by lighting a candle or even making a meal and placing a token plate of food and drink out for them while you eat. Your imagination should know no bounds and even though you may not get feedback you can be sure they are around. We empower them when we allow them to do service on our behalf through our free will, now that they have none of their own in the Astral<span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">If all this is new to you, have a party for your guides, “prepare a table for them.” Welcome them into your life and to their altar. Introduce them to your dream container.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">If you have many guides and are greatly beloved you will have many dissuaders and be greatly envied.</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">We may also be visited or opposed by dysfunctional spirits – tricksters – from lesser vibrations. They are envious of those who have a high vibration and their “light” is a reproach to them. We need to be aware that they can not only interfere with us but also masquerade as guides</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Lesser vibrations which emanate, from narrow mind are often viewed as needing to sort out and work through their own calling. Beware of those on either side of the veil who would make you their resolution, much less their absolution.</span></i></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">In order to connect with our guides, it helps to raise our vibration. This requires a dedicated spiritual practice which can help open the higher chakras especially the sixth or Third Eye - the gateway to downloads from the Field in dreams or in awake time. Love is the catalyst that allows our guides to cross the veil between the worlds and opening our hearts will enable them to come through the veil more easily.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-16663558062198775262023-10-22T10:31:00.000-07:002023-10-22T10:31:09.385-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">UNCONVENTIONAL FORMS OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AND FINDING EQUANIMITY</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span> </span></b><b><span> SOUND # 2</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cymatics<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ernst Chladni was the first to show how tiny particles arrange themselves in patterns when exposed to music on a receptive flat metal plate. In this way he made sound visible and produced so called Chladni figures on their surfaces. This became the basis for Cymatics, the physics of sound.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hans Jenny in the 60’s - some 200 years later - using sand, spores, iron filings on vibrating metal plates, on membranes and also in water and viscous substances found that vowels, words and sound generated shapes. Patterns were seen including; octahedrons, tetrahedrons, hexagons, and the geometrical patterns seen in plants and animals – some forming Sacred Geometry<b>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Other researchers found that certain patterns changed according to the frequency of the sound giving different patterns. The higher the frequency, the more complex they became. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">Wasaru Emoto discovered that d</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">iscordant music, epitomized by Heavy Metal, had negative effects on water, causing ugly crystal formations </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">when viewed </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">under a microscopy </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">after freezing</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">. </span><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Concordant music such as that of the great </span>composers<span style="font-family: inherit;"> created exquisite crystals.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Emoto, German scientists and more recently Veda Austin have shown that water has consciousness, resonance and memory. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Veda Austin (see link below) has take this to another level. The link is well worth the 20 minutes of viewing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><span style="color: #800180;">Magical cures, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">(spontaneous remissions of deadly diseases that defied the best of what Western medicines has to offer) </span><span style="color: #800180;">have occurred in such place as Lourdes in France and other holy</span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> sites </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">where there is sacred water</span><span style="color: #800180;">. The cures at Lourdes were ratified by the Vatican's medical commission.</span><span style="color: #800180;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When we bathe we can, without much effort, make a ritual bath sacred, with music, incense and also by adding sacred plants.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Click and play Austin's research</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=veda+austin+water&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#">29:08</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Music can do many things to our inner beings. It can create equanimity which is the basis, in its broadest sense, of any meditation. We have to be careful of what we select for our listening. As Austin confirms sound travels through water even faster than through air. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Concordant music creates harmony, balance and serenity. Discordant music the opposite.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #800180;">"If one should desire to know whether a kingdom is well governed, </span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">if its morals are good or bad, </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">the quality of its music will furnish the answer.” </span><span style="color: #800180;">Confucius</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Nazis used music to torture Jews, the military to march soldiers to their deaths in war, others to court and woo prospective mates ... and all shades of light and dark in-between ... <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Re Lucifer who became Satan:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><i style="font-weight: bold;">"The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day that you were created."</i></span><i><span> </span></i><span>Ezekiel</span><span><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lucifer was the chief musician in heaven before he was removed by God, along with the other fallen angels.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> The church believes that there is a certain tone that could be associated with the dark side. It was called the devil's interval — in Latin, <i>diabolus en musica,</i> the flatted fifth or the "tritone" because it is made of three whole steps. Many famous heavy metal and other rock musicians flirted with Satan implicity or explicitly. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">David Bowie, like the church called it, the Devil's music. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Sex, drugs and rock and roll” were often associated with addiction, soul loss and even dark spirit possession. Jimmy Hendriks and Robert Johnson admitted to having sold their souls to the devil in return for their musical brilliance. They also both died young as did some others. </span></div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Beethoven, Wagner and Tartini were a few composers who used tritones, but only where appropriate, while dissonant chords became the main focus in heavy metal music as well as some other genres. The tritone was felt to be ambiguous, unsettling, unstable, unresolved, leaving a feeling it had nowhere to go.</span><b><span> </span></b><span>Some said it was very sexual and was the sound used to call up the “Beast.” </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span> Words alone can also change the vibration in water - possibly harmfully </span>in the body - especially when used together with dissonant music. Our cells contain 80% water.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Be careful of what you taste and where you immerse!</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Words have great power. They acknowledge, affirm and inspire. They strengthen, heal and give comfort…When using words, choose them well. Never use them as a weapon to harm or as an alienating defense …”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The popular music of Rap grew out of Hip Hop and unfortunately, like most things became vulnerable to corruption and big money. Hip Hop arose out of the Bronx in the 70’s and was a cultural statement against; poverty, violence, gangs, drugs and racism. It was meant to be socially healing. It was built on social justice, peace, respect, self-worth, community and fun. Likewise, originally Rap was never meant to endorse, violence, profanity, drugs, misogyny and advising a life style of crime or coming up against the police and the law. Being lucrative it has been subject to corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Words change the meaning and vibration of the intention; light or dark, sacred or profane. Toxic vocabulary pollutes the rhythms and discordant music can have profoundly negative, vibrational effects on its participants. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Christian rock is an attempt to come up against the profane. Rabbi Nachman Berman sings in Rap but expounds scripture. Matisyahu who dressed in Chassidic garb uses Reggae, Hip Hop and Afro-beat to do the same thing. The words change everything.</span></div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">Music can do many things to our inner beings and we have to be careful how we select it, and the words that it contains. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The sounds of nature are concordant. The mantra of the bush can be like a complex symphony.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sound crumbles, impedes and shatters resistance and barriers including those to the mind and the heart. It also can clear dark forces, within and without. One of the best ways to cleanse and clear oneself is with sound. Sound speaks to one’s vibration.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sacred music or sound can create equanimity of body, mind and soul.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>The soul's essence should lodge comfortably in the body.</span></i></b><b><i><span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The soul’s fulfillment is through the experience of the senses. The soul’s conversation is not of the mind but of the senses.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><i style="font-weight: bold;">From the sound of my sighing (</i>equanimity) <i style="font-weight: bold;">has my essence </i></span><span>(soul)<b><i>, cleaved onto my flesh </i></b>(body)<b><i>." </i></b></span><span>Psalms <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>When we are spiritually in balance and have serenity the soul and the body are at one. When the opposite occurs, and we behave in a karmically unsound manner, the soul may gradually separate from the body, leading to soul sickness or even soul loss. Music, chants and sound can be a way of reuniting body and soul. The wrong kind of music can do the opposite, forcing the soul to divorce from an impure body</span><span>. The soul is pure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Concordant music can drive our imaginations and help us heal. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>A</span><span>ctive imagination can be enhanced by sound. We have a choice, to leap with the mind activated by the sensory input of sound into infinity, light and spaciousness or descend into narrowness and darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There are certain things that have universal attributes, like music. Something of greater magnitudes is conveyed by them. They connect us with the universal storehouse of life and knowledge." <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Swami Paramananda<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Clink on the link and play.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiV796ilYiCAxUUN0QIHfDPDXwQyCl6BAgqEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWRmBChQjZPs&usg=AOvVaw2GpgvTFY9AMFEYc2gZrqXo&opi=89978449">Matisyahu - One Day (YouTube Version)</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-47416739672273942672023-10-14T07:52:00.000-07:002023-10-14T07:52:15.021-07:00<p><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">UNCONVENTIONAL FORMS OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span> </span></b><b><span> SOUND # 1</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><span>In the beginning</span></b></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b> was the sound?</b></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: </span></i></b><b><i><span>and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i><span>Genesis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><b><i><span>"Quiet— Eternal Quiet. Not even the sound of the restless, stirring, dark waters could be heard. Then, a great spiraling strain of Melody moved across the endless waters. Subdued at first, then quickly gathering momentum until it reached a great crescendo. And, then, there was Life! But the Melody did not stop. It continued its song, filling all of Creation with its Divine harmony. And so it continues today, for all those who listen."</span></i></b><span> Frank Mills</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“In the beginning was the Word</span></i></b><b><i><span style="background-color: white;">, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”</span></i></b><i><span style="background-color: white;"></span></i><span style="background-color: white;">John</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;">However, some ancient wisdom schools believe that it was </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">intention with the imagination of the Creator</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;"> as well as </span><span style="color: #800180;">the complexities of sound vibrations that created the multiverse rather than only the word.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">All energy and matter are vibratory and their atomic make up helps us understand how the Creator may have sung the world into existence. Sound, music and song are a </span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;">crucial</span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"> part of the creative "mathematics" of the Divine.</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“Pythagoras alone of mortals is said to have heard this harmony … If our hearts were as chaste and as snowy as Pythagoras, our ears would resound and be filled with that supremely lovely music of the wheeling stars.”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i><span>John Milton.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"> </span><span style="color: #800180;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The stars are singing to us but we cannot hear them because of a lack of receptivity and the prevalence of ambient noise.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“…when the stars of the morning sang together.”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i><span>Job<i><br /><br /><b> “There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st but in his motion like an angel sings.”</b></i>Shakespeare<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“We should thank the stars for their song. Their light emanates from their singing and when they sing they glow. That is how they reveal themselves. <br />The Zohar teaches when we pray in the morning it is a continuation of the singing of the stars.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">Ever since the Greeks until fairly recently music has been considered sacred and an attempt to mimic the voice of the Divine. </span><span>The ancient Greeks also believed that music could return humanity to a paradise lost and was a form of communion with Divine truth. The Greeks and others felt that sound should follow a certain "objective moral order" as did the church. The great classical composers followed this idea. Pre-modernistic music kept these principles up until the last century. Relatively recently this has changed and musical </span>discordance has become prevalent<span>.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Sacred Sound<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Sacred sound from classical music, Tibetan gongs, crystal bowls, a didgeridoo or anything else (drums, strings etc.) can help induce meditative states and equanimity.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Special songs and chants have the power to awaken the dormant and reveal the hidden and stir the energies that heal and glorify.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Active Meditation: Chanting, singing, whistling and the use of wind instruments can be a part of breath meditation.</span><span> Bhajans<span style="background-color: white;"> and Kirtans, devotional songs that help to connect with the Divine are also a form of an embodied "breath" practice. They help us connect with our Creator whose breath is sustaining us moment to moment.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"What is God? The breath within the breath." </i> Kabir</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">All four Beings of nature are animated by the breath of the Divine. </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sound has spiritual power and features prominently in the Bible. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Singing and playing musical instruments in the tabernacle and later the temple was the duty of Levite priests and priestesses. Levite harpists were routinely called upon by the prophets to enable prophecy. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">King David's psalms were in song and included instruments such as psalteries, harps, timbrels, stringed instruments, organs and cymbals. The harp was known to be an instrument of healing and was also used for cleansing spiritual afflictions. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Music and sound are a vital part of our spirituality, balance and healing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“<i>God protects the Psalmist by surrounding him with "songs of deliverance."<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take his harp and play it with his hand and Saul would be refreshed and be well and the evil spirit would depart from him.”</span></i></b><span> Samuel<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>"Divine sound </span></i></b><b><i><span>is the cause of all manifestation. The knower of the mystery of sound knows the mystery of the whole universe."</span></i></b><i><span> <br /></span></i><span>Hazrat Inayat Khan<i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>If we perform random acts of kindness or create or listen to beautiful, concordant music we release pockets of love energy or mini-angels. Non-concordant music does the opposite.The right sound can be divinely inspired and sacred music can allow us to find equanimity and balance. </span>Concordant music enhances our parasympathetic nervous system creating a relaxation response with positive effects on our nervous system and body. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>The wrong kind of music </span>such<span> as Heavy Metal - does the opposite. It has been described by many, even David Bowie, as the Devil's music. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Military style music also advantages our sympathetic flight or fight response and helps in battle. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Everything in the multiverse is vibration and the electromagnetic energy in sound and music is fundamental to our reality and whether we are in balance or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Heart Math institute has done research on the coherence of heart rhythms in relationship to Heart Rate Variability (H.R.V.) Heart rate Coherence occurs when the parasympathetic nervous system is invoked with meditative techniques. Heart coherence has the potential to create emotional balance in the brain and can occur with any meditative technique and also with selected music. The right kind of music has the potential to create heart, mental and spiritual coherence. This can override stress and the negative emotions that arise from a sympathetic flight of fight response. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Certain genres music can be healthful, enhance immune function and create positive emotional states. The wrong kind - the opposite. Music can help drive our imaginative capacities. Guided imagery with music helps us to heal.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We have to be sensitively aware of what discordant music can do to our being as well. Emoto showed that concordant music (like Mozart), when exposed to water that was frozen, produced exquisite <span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">crystals when looked at under a microscope. Discordant music (like Heavy Metal) did the opposite. He and German scientists have shown that water has memory, resonance and consciousness. Our cell are 80% water. Think of what music can do to our bodies?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“I am conscious of having removed all traces of a past aesthetic. </span></i></b><b><span><i>I am cured of the delusion that the artist’s aim is to create beauty.”</i></span></b><i><span> </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Schoenberg (and his ideas on discord and atonality in the 1920’s.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> He and others were influential in changing musical concord into discord and away from the great composers and the church. This same discord creates discord in the living systems. Boulez who preceded him and Cage agreed and also drifted away from the concept of the sacredness of music.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><b><i>“Once the past has been got out of the way, one need think only of oneself.”</i> </b>Boulez</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">(Musical narcissism?)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><b><i>“Purposeful purposelessness,” to have absolutely no organization. </i></b>Cage<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> John Adams was greatly influenced by New England's musical culture. He, and others came up against those in favor of dissonance and atonality. He said; </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>“At the same time God disappears, so does the intelligible order in creation. If there is no God, Nature no longer serves as a reflection of its Creator. If you lose the Logos you also lose the ratio (logos) of Pythagoras. Nature is stripped of its normative power.”</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Church has tried to counter discordance with Christian rock as have other artists such as Matisyahu with his combination of reggae, hip hop and rock beats. Words are key to the vibration. Cursing and four letter words add to the power of the negative effects even if the sound is relatively concordant, as has now happened in Rap.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Click on the link and play</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiH2sjy2_WBAxUSJ0QIHZcwA98QyCl6BAgqEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWRmBChQjZPs&usg=AOvVaw2GpgvTFY9AMFEYc2gZrqXo&opi=89978449">Matisyahu - One Day (YouTube Version)</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-58866712285884514312023-10-07T04:59:00.000-07:002023-10-07T04:59:41.618-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">UNCONVENTIONAL FORMS OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">The soul's fulfillment is through the experience of the senses.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">NATURE #3</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><i>“In the realm of nature there is nothing purposeless, trivial or unnecessary.”</i></b><i style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"> </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">Maimonides</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180;">Meditate on these wisdoms … to better connect with the "Garden of Eden" </span></span><span style="color: #800180;"><span>Archetype </span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic;"><b>Have you seen God in His splendor, heard the text that nature renders? (You’ll never hear it in the family pew.) The simple things the true things, the silent wo/men that do things, then listen to the wild it's calling you. They have cradled you in custom, they have pinned you with their preaching, they have soaked you in convention through and through. They have put you in a showcase, y</b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ou’re a credit to their teaching but can’t you hear the wild its calling you…” </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">Robert Service</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“The spirit of human is nomad, his/her blood Bedouin and love is the aboriginal tracker on the faded desert spoor of his lost self...</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">” </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">L. Van der Post</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">After being interned in a Japanese prisoner of war camp Louren van der Post returned to South Africa and went into the bush to heal. This was his description of "Wilderness Rapture" or a Oneness Experience with an encounter that he had with a magnificent Kudu bull. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">And then it was as if all the chains of a type of slavery dropped from me with such a rush that they tinkled and rattled in my imagination… a great rush of emotion swept over me that was impossible to describe, except that all its urges and manifestations met in a wordless cry; </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I have come home!</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">”</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">L. Van der Post</span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: center; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">The Wilderness or Nature's Effect can have many faces depending on each individual.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 4.32pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“We cannot today recreate the original wilderness human in shape form or habitat. But we can recover him because he exists in us. S/He is the foundation in spirit or psyche on which we build ... </span><span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: super;">”</span><span style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: super;"> </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180;">L. Van der Post</span></span></p><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><div style="text-align: center;"><span>We cannot and should not try and hold onto magical, joyful experiences because they are impermanent – just to savor them in that moment and incorporate them into new beginnings for ourselves.We begin with receptivity and intent and if we allow awe to seep into us we become humbled and subordinate ourselves and our egos to the magnificence. When we belittle the small self with humility in nature, the Higher Self emerges as does a certain oneness with the wildness. </span></div></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span>“S/he who loses him</span></i></b><i><span>s<b>elf will find him/her Self.</b></span></i><b><span>” </span></b><i><span> </span></i><span>Matthew</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180;">The more we steep ourselves in the immediacy of the moment, the deeper we travel into the heart’s chambers.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180;">The lighter we tread with the mind, the higher the soul will soar.</span></i></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><div style="text-align: center;"><span>The longer we are out in nature with the right inner intention, the deeper the effect. Animals, plants and even rocks may take on or give our receptive consciousness different messages and meanings. Sometimes our guides send power animals our way. Their archetypes or the metaphors they represent in that moment are the messages our guides want to convey. Dreams, including scripted ones by our guides, become more prominent.</span></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><i> </i></p></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">Wanting to be of service can be a byproduct of this immersion</span><span style="color: #800180; letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px; text-align: left;"><span>.</span> <span>T</span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">he hero/ine's journey is about giving the </span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">grail</span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> a</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px;">way</span><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> and being of service to others and the planet.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">“When you find your place, where you are, practice begins.” </span></i></b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Dogen</span></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><b>The more we immerse ourselves into the mystery, the more intuitive we become and the more aware of how the natural and the supernatural are interwoven.<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span><br /><b>Our task is not to try to decode the mystery but rather to access it.</b></span></i><b><i><span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i>Behold all creation with awe - seeing into it its sacredness.<br />Sacred mystery is to be experienced in joy and with awe - not to be deciphered. To be entered - not to be decoded.</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Harrison Owen’s rules of non-attachment fit well for any of these journeys which can become challenging to one’s equanimity especially in third world countries where the unexpected, unpredictable and unpleasant can confront us. Everything is a test of our spiritual maturity and ability to maintain equanimity. </span></div></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i>“Whoever are present are the right people. </i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i>Whenever it begins is the right time. </i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i>Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened. When it’s over – it’s over.”</i></b></p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">In the sanctity of surrender ...</span></i></b></p></div></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>In surrendering are we then received, in emptying are we then filled, in opening are we then embraced - In loving do we then know love and are transformed.</span></i></b><b><span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"> Surrender empowers the vision of spacious mind to see the sacred in all creation.<br />We see it in a pebble, a leaf a feather the uniqueness of all within the whole - endless diversity in endless oneness.<br />Surrender allows spacious mind to silence speech so that we may hear the spirit voices of trees and listen to the song in the winds.<br />God’s voice is heard with the heart in response to its yearnings.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">The barren and the weeds have their beauty and their mystery too.</span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);"><b>The mystery is not to solve problems or overcome temptations. <br />The mystery is to behold wonder and embrace joy. <br />The way is not to God but with God.</b></i></span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p></div></span></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-66516682779349301992023-09-30T06:03:00.005-07:002023-09-30T06:03:56.933-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">UNCONVENTIONAL FORMS OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">NATURE #2</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Wilderness (or Nature) Rapture</span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; letter-spacing: normal;">For an inner experience we should go into nature in silence and reverence as one would do going into a temple. One cannot expect to experience the benefits with ear pods tuned into music or incessant talking. We need to surrender to silence and listen with all our senses, even taste. There is a greater appreciation </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: left;">driven by our thirst and effort </span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">when we really taste and enjoy water or our snack and can be in the moment with how they nourish and give pleasure.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;">We can connect with the Soft fascinations which include; sunsets, sunrises, moon-sets, moon-rises, the subtle smells and aromas and the sounds or mantra of the bush. When we immerse for longer periods we can entrain with the daily and seasonal cycles as well. </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"It was only when the while man came that wilderness existed." </i> Luther Standing Bear</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">Indigenous peoples were and still are a part of nature – we are apart from nature. </span><span style="text-align: left;">We have to prepare and know before we go! </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;">When we venture into wild places we make all sorts of preparations to go out and look forward to coming back to our creature comforts. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>The force of the primal self, manifested as love is the glory of God. Those who awaken it in others and nurture the nurturers glorify Him.</i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When we re-encounter our original, indigenous or primal self apart from our religion, culture, education, and conditioning - this “self” can become closer to the real Self if we immerse in nature with respect and awe. Adopting some form of primal consciousness can help us to find spirit in nature.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span><b style="font-style: italic;">“Somewhere beyond the walls of our awareness, the Esau side, the hunter</b><b><i>-</i></b></span><span><b><i>gatherer side, the seeking side of ourselves is waiting to return.</i></b></span><b><span>” </span></b><span>L. Van der Post</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Encourage going primal – take off </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128); color: #800180; text-align: left;">our shoes,</span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"> even sleep around a fire on the earth to “ground” oneself or for “earthing.” Connect with the Mother’s electromagnetic field. The total experience requires shedding or peeling away the inhibitory layers of civilization with takes time.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;">The effects can be profound. Not only may our dreams be enhanced but we may get intuitive messages in awake time as we walk the deserts, mountains or valleys. As nature meditates us we become more congruent with our true Selves and more coherent with any fellow travelers, with the field of nature around us and the cosmic Field above us. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <b>“<i>Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness…”</i></b> Isaiah </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;">Spiritual masters have frequently gone into the wilderness to Self-realize, sometimes for as much as 40 days and 40 nights. The Native American vision quest is also a way of connecting with the quest for one’s sacred work and destiny. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Creator wants a personal relationship with each one of us. Kabbalah teaches that God is playing hide and seek but no one wants to play. Nature is a powerful place to find one's-Self in the plethora of His/Her creative masterpiece. </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> <i style="font-weight: bold;">"Play in the exultation of the extraordinary. </i>M. Buber</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Its good to remember that we are connecting with the Earth Mother archetype which is feminine, so that a more receptive feminine approach will go a long way in the experiencing.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><b><i>"Search for me and you will find me. Seek me with all your heart and I will let you find me"</i></b> Jeremiah</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px; text-align: left;"> We are all capable of hearing the soft almost silent, still voice of the Divine. We do not hear it as a trumpeting sound but rather like a whisper on the wind. Humility is key and nature facilitates it. </span><span style="color: #800180; letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px; text-align: left;">If possible take time out on a lake, by the ocean or in the mountains for as long as you can. Five days, at least, is ideal for this immersion. It can also be in a facility that allows for your inner intention and has access to nature - a Buddhist retreat, other or even a Spa.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="letter-spacing: 0.46666666865348816px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It will be given to you according to the measure of your humility.</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;">This is the way we can attain Wilderness Rapture. Maslow may have called it a Peak Experience, others the Wilderness Effect. Rapture occurs when we connect with the Soft Fascinations, the Directions, their elements, the Creator, the Archangels and the Four Beings of Nature. </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;">The rapture might just be an alfa relaxed state of consciousness or something deeper.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;">Synchronicity may occur or we can experience a state of flow, fluidity or a feeling of being in the zone. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"> The equanimity can be a subtle trance like meditative effect or something as profound as the Oneness Experience or Unity Consciousness where the Knower, The Known and the process of Knowing fuse into one thing for a short period of time. In other words, if one is in the process of experiencing a sunset one becomes the sunset. </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Wilderness Rapture; What greatly differs is the vastness of the territory, variety of the forces, purity of the pristine and magnitude of the drama and majesty. The more splendid and awesome the less need for a teacher other than itself and you.</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“Haze hung over the valley, light as gossamer and clouds partially dimmed the higher cliffs and mountains. This obscurity of vision but increased the awe with which I beheld it and as I looked a peculiar exalted sensation seemed to fill my whole being and I found my eyes in tears with emotion.” </span><span>L. Bunnell (on being one of the first of a party of white people to </span>enter<span> Yosemite </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">valley.)</span></span></p><p style="direction: ltr; line-height: normal; margin: 0pt 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">We do not have to go into wild places to achieve the balance we need although it helps. W</span><span style="text-align: left;">e can also find nature wherever we happen to be, in a garden, a park, on a beach.</span></span></p><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We need to sanctify the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. It becomes the challenge of non-attachment to outcome, receptivity and surrender. Surrender is not a giving up but a giving in to something much greater than oneself. The attitude is one of letting go, being in the flow, not grasping, not achieving, being flexible to what presents and connecting with the “Field.” This will give equanimity, inner peace, and deeper inner states of consciousness.</span></div><div><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i>There are every day wonders unheard and overlooked far remote from wilderness – the sound of rain, a fallen feather, a spider’s web.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span>(Spider, the bridge-maker to new realms and harbinger of expanding dimensions.)</span></i></b><b><i><span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i>These are unheard and overlooked and seem far remote from wilderness until we realize how perception of the smallest bit of wild can connect to our higher Self. Nature reveals, inspires, encourages and shows the way.</i></b></p></span></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“To sanctify the ordinary” is to recognize and acknowledge the sacred in every created being whether still or growing, wild or angelic or human... Learn the mystery, savor the wonder of it all. There is nothing that is empty of the divine, "to sanctify the ordinary" is not to make it holy but to be aware of it as sacred and to treat of it with our own sacredness.</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: x-large; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1078567949902802794.post-514291119224796372023-09-23T15:04:00.001-07:002023-09-23T15:05:24.612-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div><span><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">UNCONVENTIONAL FORMS OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">NATURE #1</span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start;"><span><b>Behold all creation with awe - seeing into it its sacredness.</b></span><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span face="-webkit-standard" style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start;"></span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start;">"Those of us who have spent time in wilderness are aware of the fact that there is something more to wilderness than we ourselves can express. Wilderness is an instrument for enabling us to recover our lost capacity for religious experience."</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start;">L.Van</span><span style="letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start;"> der Post</span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay until sundown, for going out, </i></span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">I found, was really going in." </i>John Muir</span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> Nature meditates us, </span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 1, 128);">when we have that intention, </span><span><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">by being</span></span></span><span><span> in the present moment with our surroundings.</span><span> </span><span><span> Moreover, utilizing any form of spiritual practice as well,</span><span> allows </span></span></span><span>nature to meditate us even more profoundly (chanting, singing, drumming, dancing, playing a flute ...) </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span>“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”</span></i></b><i><span> </span></i><span>Kahlil Gibran</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal;">For some being in nature is the best sensory meditation. </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Most, however, go into nature to work out, for adventure, to develop skills and almost unknowingly feel better for it but going inward usually is not their objective. Activity is based on self-mastery (mastery of the small self) and sometimes we recognize an almost militaristic language such as; </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal;">bagging peaks, running rivers, conquering mountains or I crushed </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>that</i></span><i style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal;"> ...</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> It is difficult to go inward with the wrong intent and receptivity. The same is true with incessant chattering or when listening to music - these shut out the connection.</span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">“To achieve is to be externally oriented but to attain deeper effects we need to let go of the attachment to accomplish anything. </span></i></b><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Goal orientation and a deeper connection to nature are mutually exclusive in the present moment</span></i></b><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">.” </span></i></b><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Dave Cumes. (Inner Passages Outer Journeys.)</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;"> We have enough goals and tasks and other manifestations of the "outer" at home and at work. Why take them with us into nature's sacred space? When we venture into nature we begin with an inner intention but once set, let go and immerse in all that is around us. This is the crux between balancing the inner and the outer. Receptivity and intention are everything. </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; letter-spacing: normal;">If we want to find equanimity we should avoid company that is counterproductive this state of mind. No matter how strong our intention to go inwards is, it can be sabotaged by those whose energy is outwards. Their focus is acquisitive of the latest technologies for the task at hand as well as sometimes being competitive. For others a camera gets in the way, as well as the concept of “getting to know”... what bird is that, which animal made that track? These also inhibit the experience by making us observers rather than fully immersing in the wonder. </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: #800180; text-align: left;">It's best to walk alone in </span><span style="color: #800180;">silence, even if accompanied.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; letter-spacing: normal;">We are immersing in the Creator'</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; letter-spacing: normal;">s temple or Garden of Eden archetype where we can begin to connect, </span></span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">with humility, to</span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"> the signs, and metaphors that rocks, plants and power animals present to us. These are best received in a relaxed, alfa state of consciousness. The longer we are out, the more we release the impediments to transforming spiritually and we can begin to feel our-<b>S</b>elves again.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;">Here are some guidelines for the inner journey. </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;">Keep it simple. Take only the basic necessities. Avoid survival situations, goals and if possible time restraints. Minimize the need to know. Avoid photography unless the process is meditative and turn the smart phone off unless there is a critical need to use it. Let the wonder speak for itself.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;">For those taking time out for a deeper experience (five days or more,) formulating the encounter in terms of the three phases of the hero/ine's journey can be profound. Use of the Four Directions and their polarities can also enhance the journey (refer back to prior blogs or dvd's on the website.)</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: normal;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">“May the hero/ine awaken from forgetfulness and transcend all anxiety and sorrow.” </span></i></b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> The Upanishads</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; line-height: 11.199999809265137px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">Isaiah had a vision of the Four Directions (Six, including up and down.) Each direction has its specific Being (Still, Growing, Wild and Talking,) as well as Element and Archangel, all of which are constantly being animated by the Breath of the Creator. </span><span style="color: #800180; text-align: left;">Uriel is light, Gabriel, strength and courage, Rafael, healing and Michael lovingkindness.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;">We can enlist their help at any time in nature (or outside of it.)</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;">The directions are also associated with their respective power animals. We should adopt our own which often come to us in metaphors with subtle messages. We can connect with the Four Beings of nature as follows...</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">To experience the still beings you must touch them, </span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">to experience the growing, sprouting beings you must listen to them, </span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">to experience the wild beings you must dance with them </span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">and to experience the talking beings you must feel </span></i></b><b><i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">with them.</span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">We are all connected, some of all in each. All are spirit manifestations and exist in one another.</span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i><span>The fundamental notion of equilibrating the opposites is omnipresent in all beliefs. This universal truth is crucial to our understanding of how we keep balance, transcend, and heal. </span></i></b><span> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">Dave Cumes<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">(Inner Passages Outer Journeys)</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;">Nature is a sacred space with many doors and windows to spirit. When we go out into wild places for prolonged periods we are of necessity balancing the many polarities that nature offers; up/down, hot/cold, terrified/tranquil, exhausted /rested, hungry/satiated, thirsty/quenched, night/day, sun/moon, wet/dry... This can help us find the middle way of the Buddha<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.35pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;">God’s rivers of pleasure and good are not placid waters of insipid purity. They have currents of all strengths, frequently forming into wild twists and turns alongside gentle flows, all churning and tumbling into swirling pools too deep to fathom. They are for reflecting, playing and rejuvenating and then continuing endlessly onto their source.</span></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: x-large; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></div></span></div>davecumes.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03526906161334714437noreply@blogger.com0