The Language of Love

There are some people who do well with personal love - intimate one-to-one relationships, and there are others, especially at this time in the unfolding of our collective awareness, who do well with universal love in the abstract, but not so well with the personal.

In reality, the two are eternally connected, both requiring the freeing of the self from whatever obstacles exist to the presence of love and its expression. Many spiritually dedicated people have a desire to enlarge their capacity to love and to love all in the oneness of what is, but the heart's capacity to love begins with one - it begins with taking down the barriers of fear that exist due to inner misrepresentations of what love or intimacy is truly like. Many are afraid to take down these barriers, and here is where the largest growth can take place - in your own willingness to love more where you are, as you are. The love for the Oneness that all of life belongs to will grow out of the heart's capacity to love well, to love freely, and to give itself in full surrender to the experience of loving, no matter whom it is with and no matter what the circumstances.

The universal and the personal are forever intertwined, and one cannot leap over personal difficulties in order to arrive at the larger view. In the intimate details of everything lies the goal itself. Blessings.

What Is Intimacy? - 2

We have lived with different portions of ourselves in compartments, some known to this person, some known to that. Often, there is fear of another knowing each of our compartments, the unhealed as well as the healed. Sometimes there is a forgetting that it is possible to know another without compartments, for this is a matter of a deeper kind of knowing and a matter of trust.

Intimacy lies in this trust and in the transparency of truth - the willingness to see and be seen. Without transparency, one cannot feel 'met'. And yet transparency requires a letting go of defenses, a letting go of protection. This is often hard for people and is why intimacy is in many instances only partly realized.

What is intimacy?

It is the ability to see, to know, and to love. It is also the ability to be seen, to be known, and to be loved, not just at the level of the outer self but at the level of one's deeper being.

True intimacy combines all compartments. It allows the light of love to move through all so that all can be seen, all can be known, and all can be permeated by love. How rare is this gift in today's world - rare because we conceal in order to protect, to feel loved, or to be approved of, not only by others but by ourselves as well. To be transparent, one must be willilng to see oneself.

As light increases and affects humanity's consciousness, intimacy will become more possible for protection will no longer be needed. The revealing power of light will awaken unused and new ways of knowing and of sensing. The unifying power of light will create a new capacity for openness. One day there will be nothing to hide and no where to hide it. All will be viewed in the light of unity and love.

What is the light of unity?

It is the knowledge that I am part of you and you of me. Therefore, there is nothing that you are that can cause me to reject you, for how can I reject part of myself? There may be things that are in need of changing or healing, but these are things that can be held in the light of love.

When the light of unity is part of human experience, intimacy will grow as the natural form of self-expression. Then, many will experience being 'met' with many others, for these will be spiritual meetings of a deep kind. The truest meeting, however, brought about by advancing light, will not just be with others, but with oneself and with God. This will become the new foundation for intimacy, and it will affect all relationships and all ways of being.

May the light of unity bless all beings everywhere. Amen.


See also: What is Intimacy?

The Frog Who Came Home

A large green bullfrog has been sitting by the side of a small pond (no more than 3 ft. in diameter) by the front entrance of the Light Omega Center for three days now. He does not move, but he has communicated with me in a very simple way when I asked him what he is doing there and what he needs. He told me that he is attracted to the water - both to the sound of the waterfall (operated by a pump), and to the water itself which creates the remembrance in him of 'home'.

I wondered why he had found his way to such an isolated place without other wildlife or frogs for this remembrance, and asked him if he wanted to be moved elsewhere, but his answer was ambivalent - mostly, he was content to just be.

Later on, I had the impression that he had come there to die. When I asked him about this he said: it may be so.

The frog sits in an absolutely still, meditative pose all day. It seems that the energy here as well as the feeling and smell of the water is creating in him a sense of home and I am content to just leave him there.

There is a heightened spiritual consciousness operating in certain animals that sets them apart from the rest of the species, making them more aware, more sensitive. This, I perceive to be the case with this frog.

As I was thinking of writing about this, I came across a very simple and clear article about animal communication. What may seem very complex or mysterious is explained here in the language of life.

Additional Note: It was necessary to drain and refill the little pond with fresh water in the last two days and the frog disappeared for a day while we did it. Today he is back again and I asked him again how he is and whether he wanted to be moved elsewhere. The frog answered clearly this time, that this was now his home and he was content to just be there. He also thanked me several times for my concern for his wellbeing. A sweet reminder of the appreciation of other life forms for the offering of acknowledgment.

Speaking to Trees - 2

 
There is a wooded area beside the house called 'The Grove' with large hemlock trees that stand in a perfect circle, creating a sacred space of silence and beauty.

I cleared out some of the undergrowth at the edge of this 'Grove' last week, removing small evergreens that grew where the shade and sunlight met.

Some of these were still so young that you could push them over with one finger. Others were a little more sturdy. In each case I asked permission to remove the young tree, and in each case the tree responded. Most said: "Yes, you may take me, for I will grow again elsewhere." This is what I had become accustomed to in the life of the forest. But there were three little saplings that stood like skinny fingers next to each other. They did not have many branches or look particularly lovely. Yet each of these three told me: "No, you must leave me here." This was surprising because of their unimpressive appearance, and yet I respected their wishes and left them alone. I believe that despite their outer appearance, they played an important part in the maintenance of the root system in that area of the woods.

With the undergrowth somewhat cleared, the large, beautiful hemlocks could now be seen in their grandeur from within the house - old residents of the forest floor, elders of the Earth.


See also: Speaking to Trees

A Garden for all People

Many people who create beautiful flower gardens like to look at them from their windows, or walk beside them down a narrow path concealed from onlookers. In the comfort of a private space, the smell of roses or jasmine can be drunk in slowly and deeply, and the beauty of color can be surveyed to the heart's content.

How touching it was then, to see as I walked by slowly, a garden of flowers that faced not toward the house of its creator from which it now could not be seen, but toward the street where passersby could view it and slow their cars slightly to enjoy it as they drove by. One might not think anything at all of such a gesture, except that someone who lived in the house behind the garden cared more about sharing it than 'having' it. More about bestowing it as a gift than owning it for themselves.

These tender gestures are everywhere if one looks for them. They are the unannounced sparks of generosity that touch the heart and must never be taken for granted. Someone, somewhere, cared for beauty and wanted to share it more than to possess it. That is a statement around which a life can be built, no less than a flower garden.

Living in Timelessness

There is the timelessness of the eternal Moment which is the coexistence of all things, places, and possibilities narrowed to a single point.

And there is the timelessness of living without a personal past - relating to life's flow in the present as that which is most real.

The first penetrates the fabric of time, creating the experience of the Eternal as a living reality.

The second penetrates the illusion of a personal self shaped by history and bound to it.

To live timelessly in time is a gift to the experiencing self and to humanity as well, for it embodies the sacred within human form. It does not do away with relationship or connection with others, but rather enfolds these in the ultimate perspective of Divine Love. It does not do away with the self as a point of consciousness, but rather transforms this into part of the Oneness.

Timelessness and time are not opposites but two parts of the same thing. Time is the vessel. The timeless is what is poured into it.

Speaking to Trees

I walked behind the house this morning, trying to see what trees were overshading the yard, and what might be removed without harm in order to let more sunlight penetrate. This is always a delicate matter, since trees are living beings, and one must have their understanding and permission in order to remove them for any purpose, even a good one.

I placed my hand on the tree whose canopy was overshading the yard, and put my forehead against its trunk. I asked what it thought and how it felt about my removing it in order to make more space and light.

The tree spirit answered:

"You don't have to feel guilty about this, beloved One. We are all connected through the root system, and the life-force that rises through this expression will rise again through a different expression elsewhere. You are not harming life by removing this one manifestation. This one is connected to all others and will manifest its life-force elsewhere. Do what you feel is needed, beloved One, and thank you for being so respectful in your asking."

I am still not certain about moving ahead with this removal plan. However, the promise of renewal of life gives permission and grace to whatever decision shall be made.

For those who wish to speak to trees, an open mind and an open heart are the keys. As both heart and mind learn to tune to the Oneness, communication in different forms can take place.


See also: The Spiritual Nature of Trees

Steps Toward Awakening

Realization of unity with all of life can come in a blinding flash of insight or in gradual stages of development. Each soul grows in its own way, and each must find the path to its own deepest truth.

Along the way, it is common to feel that one is not moving as fast as others toward awakening, or, at times, to feel one is not moving at all. In relation to 'unity-consciousness,' for example, it is relatively easy to feel love and harmony when love is all around us. It is more difficult to feel it when emotions are being challenged by challenging situations and when selfishness or fear rise into a more prominent focus.

At some point in the future, the power of spiritual truth will be strong enough to no longer be influenced by negative or separating emotions. This has not happened yet, and for many, emotional states still prevent the acquisition of constancy in maintaining love and connection.

In the presence of these emotional states – eg. fear, selfishness, self-absorption - an understanding must be held that the origin of selfishness is often self-protection – the feeling that one is on one’s own in caring for the self. This feeling flourishes in the absence of an experience of the Divine. Self-protection can generate an exclusive interest in meeting one’s own needs without consideration for the needs of others. It has a direct bearing on one’s ability to join with others.

Neverthekess, even while such tendencies are still present within us, intention, the will-force of the self, remains a powerful tool of the spirit. It creates a bridge between where we are and where we wish to be. It activates both mind, heart, and will around a goal that the whole self longs for. It directs energy and attention toward the aim that is being pursued.

In the presence of selfishness, self-seeking, or fear, unity can still be sought. Beyond need, beyond want, unity with others involves allowing another to be as real to us as we are to ourselves - allowing them to be seen and to make a claim upon our heart simply because they exist.

The intention toward unity is a spiritual practice that can be undertaken at any time. It is not the practice of the future in which all will be given through the higher vibrations of light. It is the practice of the present while things are still not clear.

The ‘intention toward unity’ takes the human self beyond the separating ideas of 'like' and 'dislike' to a different way of relating to life. 'Like' and 'dislike' regarding others are natural during the early stages of spiritual growth. They are natural as long as one is limited to identification with the physical self. However, beyond these distinctions is the awareness of “I am my brother’s keeper” – the motivation toward compassion and helping. And beyond “I am my brother’s keeper” is “I Am that I Am,” the essence of the Divine, perceived to exist within each created being. It is this awareness of the divine Essence within each that becomes the basis for unity, bringing an end to the sense of separation from others and an end to the illusion that there is anything but God at our deepest Source.

The New Consciousness

What I do to another I do to myself.
What I give to another I receive for myself.

In this way does the world awaken
to the single Essence that has always been.

Photo by: Claude Renault

Whispers of the Divine

Guidance comes in many forms and many ways.

Sometimes in words that appear out of nowhere.

Sometimes in the inspiration of the heart that leaps in response to the joy it feels, or to the love that bubbles up from the invisible well within.

Some guidance is given through a sense of rightness that creates a feeling of flow in a certain direction and an aversion to alternative directions.

Some, makes itself known during the peaceful stillness of going within, where a new thought is found, a new hope, a new path to follow.

There are other kinds of contacts with the Divine associated with beloved beings of the higher realms who guide humanity. These beings assist both those on a conscious spiritual path and those who are not. Each person who begins to awaken has such guides and helpers associated with their journey, and whether recognized or not, increments of spiritual light, love, strength, and truth are added by these helpers to what the embodied soul already contains so that more becomes possible. Especially when one asks for help and guidance is this true.

Beyond specific streams of help offered and help received is the light available to mankind that may be termed the Breath of the Divine. This Breath is a flow of light that moves through all creatures, maintaining life, sustaining hope, creating the wish to live in a state of oneness and love - the natural state of the soul.

Sacred and holy Breath moves within the very air we breathe. It pulsates through the body with every heartbeat. Penetrating the crown chakra and moving throughout the human body, this light stream is the link between the human individual and their higher Self and between the body and the spirit. It does not replace the connection with God. It is the vehicle for that connection.

When times are hard, it is easy to think that the benevolence of God and of the higher realms has vanished, and that what remains is only the possibility of taking care of things oneself. However it may appear, this is never true. Even in the midst of great difficulty, strengthening from within can come, the heart can be given new hope, and endurance can be supported, even when outer circumstances cannot be changed.

Whispers of the Divine are meant for human ears. Animals and plants feel these whispers as part of their natural biorhythms. Human beings are meant to experience such contact in a more conscious way. Blessed are those who learn to know the inhalation of Divine Breath and light and the exhalation of Divine purpose through the joining of the human Will with the Divine. When such is the case, whispers of the Divine become part of the movement of life itself, pointing the way, illuminating the path of truth, creating the possibility for living life as part of the sacred Oneness.

Undaipur Street With Cow

The personal in the Universal,
The Universal in the personal,
The sacred essence of a life that is holy.

Nothing too small,
Nothing too large,
All is held in God, as God.

___________________

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Photo by Claude Renault

Love or Fear

To break down the barriers of isolation,
love must become stronger than fear.

Where self-protection rules,
there, love has little space to grow.

See Me

The world cries out: "See me. I am here."
What do we see?

The one we judge cries out: "See me. I am here."
What do we feel?

The Earth itself cries out: "See me. I am here."
What do we allow ourselves to know?

Photos by Claude Renault http://visagesdinde.blogspot.com/

Living Timelessly

The knowledge that no meeting in life is accidental can be life-changing - that the very air we breathe is filled with connections to the beyond.

The practical activities of life - taking care of the house, repairing the plumbing, replacing light bulbs, listening to the radio, each of these is part of the dance of spirit and matter, the play of light through the cosmos.

We are so involved with the work of living that we often forget the exquisite drama of living, the grace of living, the gift of it.

Each action that I take by moving my arm ripples out into the universe.

Each step that I walk has an effect on those who came before along this path and on those who come after.

It is possible to live timelessly in time by being aware of these interconnections.

Then the world opens into a great pattern of beauty and unity. It opens into the knowledge that everything I do matters all of the time.

This power given to consciousness is beyond measure. It is both a power and a calling to awaken, to choose wisely. In doing this, we allow ourselves to know that in the dance of spirit and matter we are responsive to all and responsible for all.

Rock

What is matter and what is Spirit?

Inside everything that is physical are atoms, protons, electrons, and sub-atomic particles whirling around like tiny dervishes in an invisible universe. Yet, we continue to relate to things as if they were solid, knowing somewhere inside ourselves that everything is teeming with life, yet not knowing what difference this might make.

Such knowing must move from concept to experience. It must become the indelible sense of the radiant life in all things - the song of being that is sung by every part of Creation. It must be recognized as the Divine Presence within life itself.

We see this life and hear this song sometimes when nature moves us - in a sunrise or sunset, in trees, in budding leaves in the Spring. Some things speak to us of the life of the Earth. Yet, this life of the Earth is connected to the greater life of all-that-is, and all-that-is is but another name for Spirit, God, the One.

"Take off your shoes, Moses, for the ground you walk on is holy," said the Lord from the Burning Bush on top of Mt. Horeb. (Exodus 3:5) Indeed, this might be said of all ground, everywhere, the sand dunes of the desert, the mud flats of the delta, the wheat-filled plains, the rocky mountainous regions - all are holy vessels of sacred life.

When you have a chance, pick up a rock that you find while walking somewhere - not necessarily a special rock, just a rock. This small, insignificant object that you hold in your hand has been fashioned by God in the fires of Creation. Inside its hardness and solidity is that same fire that gave it birth. All of Creation is concentrated inside this tiny insignificant stone, reduced to a small sample of what is Infinite.

Can we look at this very small thing that has no external value and see something of the Creator, or shall we allow our senses to continue to fool us? The answer will depend on what our hearts and minds are ready to know.

In this moment, let us open our inner vision to see Creation continuing within the intricate patterns of energy that give life to physical matter and specifically to the life within this rock. Let us let go of the need to see with outer eyes and see with the inner.

Whatever comes to us is grace. Whatever continues to remain concealed is the journey. May all eyes be opened to see and feel the Heart of life.

Dichotomies

There are dichotomies that we set up in our minds that separate one thing from another. They create the structures by which we come to believe in duality.

spiritual versus -- physical, practical
sacred versus -- secular, mundane, ordinary
inner versus -- outer life

These dichotomies are ways of thinking. They are not real. They are categories of thought - habitual ways of perceiving.

All words create dichotomies. All words speak something into existence and leave something else out. Nevertheless, we need to find the words that create unity - not only the unity of love and of brotherhood, but the unity of a seamless life in which we hold all things as part of the Oneness.

We need to find the mind of a child again. The child that holds the world in wonder.

The Shore

Where is the 'inner' and where is the 'outer' life?

Like the shore that is both sand and water,

what is 'inner' and 'outer' are constantly affecting each other,

touching, merging, becoming one.

In the same way, the world that we see is created by

our awareness.

We shape the 'outer' by what we hold to be true.

The Illusion of the Ordinary

We see with our eyes but often do not see with our hearts. What lives around us is often covered by the veil of habit and custom, preventing the authentic soul of Life and of each individual life from being revealed to us.

The heart must awaken to love or at least to the desire to love in order to penetrate the illusion of the ‘ordinary’. It must desire to see past what is habitual and familiar to the very essence of life that manifests through every person, every event, every circumstance that we encounter.

Sometimes vision awakens because love brings its own knowing of the soul of others to us. Falling in love does this in a singular and powerful way. And yet we must fall in love with the world, with God’s world, so that our hearts can love deeply enough to see past the barriers that have governed our observation, and so that we can forgive what cannot yet peep out from behind its own coverings. Indeed, this incipient seed of awareness is waiting for the right time to germinate within the human family, and the stirrings take place even now.

We must therefore not be dissuaded by the coverings that conceal, but rather wait in patience and in peace.

Love and judgment cannot go together. One excludes the other. To awaken to the Divine in the ordinary we must be free of judgment, free of personalizing responses to us that we ‘do not like’ so that we may see past the ‘doing’ to the soul of the doer.

All true vision takes us to this understanding of the soul-essence of Life and of others.

All true vision liberates us from the illusion of the ‘ordinary’. When it is time, we can allow ourselves to begin to notice things with our hearts, letting the ego slip by and loosen its grip, letting our own soul reach our conscious awareness so that we can see what is really there.

To see what is really there - this is the gift of consciousness to each being - to know that the physical and the spiritual are not separate, but that one flows into the other as God’s eternal Breath breathing Life into life.