The Torchbearers of Humanity

"The souls of people, on their way to Earth-life, pass through a room 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 - have time to grasp a handful of tapers, which they weave into a torch.  These are the torchbearers of humanity - its poets, seers and saints, who lead and lift the race out of darkness, toward the light.  They are the lawgivers and the saviors, the light-bringers, wayshowers and truth-tellers, and without them, humanity would lose its way in the dark."   

-Plato

                                                                                                                               

Word from the Divine - Remember Your True Nature

"You have not fallen.  It is simply that you have forgotten.
It is easy to move through the days of this life and forget that your true nature is divine.  You struggle to meet your obligations; you struggle to make ends meet; you struggle and struggle and yet nothing has changed.
You believe that it is your lot in life to struggle, and this world's religions have fed you this lie so that you might feel inferior to your true nature.  They teach you that man must toil to survive, and that you must struggle to raise yourself up from the mediocre life that they insist is your lot to live; all the while they are asking, manipulating, and sometimes even demanding a share of your earnings so that you might be kept in bondage even longer.
It is time to free yourself from the constraints you have allowed to be placed over your mind and the minds of your ancestors for generations upon generations.  It is time to remember that you have chosen to come into this lifetime; not to struggle, not to toil.  Not to be be beat down and considered fallen, in payment for the sins of the first humans on this planet.  You are here to remember.  You are here to remember.
Remove the blinders from you eyes.  Allow your mind to receive what your heart has always known.  You are a child of the most infinite source of all life.  You are a child of the almighty power of love.  Your true nature is born of the divine realms beyond this limited place of time and space, and therein lays your true power. 
You have forgotten that your nature is divine.  It is time to step into the power that is divinely yours.  It is time to remember your true nature.  It it time to remember who you are.

Do not think from what is said that it is wrong to give of your earnings to those whom would help and assist you on your journey.  A workman is worthy of his hire, and so give as you will.  Be generous in your giving, giving only to those who are assisting this world in raising its vibration.  Give not to those who would have you believe that you are a lowly worm and that you must seek out your salvation through them.  They are false prophets, given to ego and base desires for material things.  Recognize the divine nature in others as you recognize the divine nature of yourself.

Again, you have not fallen.  It is simply that you have forgotten.  It is time to awaken.  It is time to remember.  Your true nature is divine."

A Real Seeker After Truth - DescartesI

"If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life, you doubt, as far as possible, all things." 

 

Seeker by Rumi

"Don't think of him as a seeker...

Whatever he is seeking for, he is that himself."

~Rumi

Solomon Speaks on Reconnecting Your Life - Book Review

What would you do if you were given “…an opportunity to bring about a change of consciousness that would have ripple effects throughout the universe in perpetuity… And you didn’t do it… Because you were afraid…”

This is the choice Dr. Eric Pearl was faced with when he was given the same message over and over from many different people. 

Dr. Eric Pearl is the well known author of The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself, his first book and creator of the healing experience known by the same name.  I was struck by his sincerity after reading The Reconnection, and it left me wanting more.   I was excited to receive a complimentary copy of his latest book from Hay House in exchange for writing this review.

His latest book, Solomon Speaks on Reconnecting Your Life, however, is one of the most difficult books I've read through.  It is not a book one can read through in one sitting, and it took me several attempts to work my way through it. 

I’m always a little skeptical when reading books where the author says the work is channeled by other entities, but regardless of skepticism, I find there are always some truths that that can be gained from each of these channeled books.

I would recommend this book to someone who has already read The Reconnection and is looking for more detail on the messages Dr. Pearl received in order to bring The Reconnection Experience to the world. 

Solomon Speaks on Reconnecting Your Life serves as a reminder of our role in the universe, that we are light, and that anything denser than light has nothing left to hold onto.   It is a reminder that if we quit holding on to our desired outcomes and let go of our judgments, we can enjoy the process.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.

Leaving the City of Your Comfort

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.  What you'll discover is wonderful.  What you'll discover is yourself."  ~ Alan Alda

Calling Forth Your Future

You were not built nor designed to spend your life staring blankly at a television screen, or sitting in mindlessly before a computer screen; doing so is like trying to create your happiness from the dung heap.
You were not made to work for any man, to toil with so much effort for another man's enjoyment, and with so little reward in every respect - financially, spiritually, physically and emotionally.

You are not made to ignore your heart, to forsake your own happiness and pleasure for the sake of someone else' gospel.
You were created to live this life to its fullest, to make the most of every moment, to make each moment count, and to bend the future into your present.  Speak into the future and call it forth now.  Call it forth from your heart and from your heart of hearts.
Be neither weak nor coward, and take the next easiest step towards making your life count.  You hold your future in the palm of your hand and on the tip of your tongue.  You are leaving a legacy, and it is one that you create.  Bring your future into your present and watch it become reality in the here and now.

Naked Before God

A fifth century Syrian monk (Pseudo-Dionysius) once wrote:

"When we encounter the matchless glory of the divine, we find ourselves not simply running short of words but actually speechless and unknowing - standing naked before God without the protective interference of language."

 

I've often heard the phrase "naked before God" used to describe the state of brokeness one should be in to stand in the presence of the almighty.  In the context of my spiritual upbringing, this phrase also implies not just the casting off of our sinful nature, but also the glaring humiliation of one's own nakedness.  This notion of standing naked before God was most often used in context of God's displeasure and of his judgement.  It was used by the church I was raised in to shed light on the vast difference between the goodness of God and the base carnality of mankind.  I suppose some of that stems from the story of Adam covering himself in the Garden of Eden because he saw he "was naked and was ashamed."

As I sit in meditation, I see a new construct of this "naked before God" concept.  In meditation, as in many spiritual practices, everything fades away except the connection with the Divine.  There is no brokeness.  There is no judgement.  There is no thought of covering oneself up because of shame.  There is only the sense of oneness, love and overwhelming peace. It is the recognition of the Divine flowing through us.

"...An Evolution in Spiritual Consciousness"

I just read this intriguing article by spiritual teacher, intuitive, and author Sara Wiseman about how a radical transformation can shift your consciousness.  These are the lines that caught my attention:

"What I am seeing now is an evolution in spiritual consciousness, an absolute revolution in what it means to be a human being, what it means to be a Divine being, and most importantly, what it means to be both things at the same time.

We get this one precious lifetime, and you better believe we're here to experience it fully..."

Amazing!  You can read the full article at InspireMeToday.com

Held Together With Ties Inseparable.

"Though free to think and act, we are held together, like the stars in the firmament, with ties inseparable.  These ties cannot be seen, but we can feel them." -Nikola Tesla

OTB Experience?

I had a difficult time settling into my body this morning. I awoke a few hours earlier than normal and was completely disoriented. 

I didn't know where I was, I couldn't remember which state I lived in, much less the city. I had a nagging feeling that I had to go to work later, but I didn't know where I worked or what route I had to take to get there. 

As I relaxed into my body, I was certain I was somewhere in Southern California and that the drive to work was about 40 minutes from where I was. 

I haven't lived in California since the late '80's and I haven't thought much about for a very long time. 

I became fully awake, and yet wasn't quite present in my physical body, or in the physical space of my room. 

It was a little disconcerting, but in retrospect, I enjoyed the feeling of becoming present into this space and time.  I look forward to traveling again. 

What About Love?

I was reading some book reviews online and I came across a line where the writer (in his positive review) stated that the book he was reviewing wasn't like any other book on spirituality because it wasn't a "feel good book where 'wuv' will solve all our problems."
I know he was trying to be flip, but it really got me thinking about what we look for when we read books on spirituality or awakening.
I believe that at the core of our being, at the core of all of us whom are living the human experience, we are not merely connected by love, but we are love.  Our search for answers, our search for the deeper meaning in even our reading of spiritual books is for a deeper understanding of ourselves, and a longing for the remembered connection with all that is divine.
We already have the answers.  We already know the truth.  What we have lost or misplaced is our memory of how to connect to them.  We pick up book after book, go to seminar after seminar, and look outside ourselves for the solutions to problems and the answers to our questions.
How did we get so lost that we think we are broken?
Why is it that we can become so spiritually jaded we think love is just a quick-fix, pop culture concept that is in every self help book or spiritual practice?
As I write this, I am reminded of Marianne Williamson's book A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles.  Maybe what we need is a return to love.
Love is not some trite principle that solves all our problems.   Scripture states "Love is patient and kind.  It does not envy or boast.  It is not proud.  It doesn't dishonor others, it doesn't seek after itself.  Love is not easily angered, and keeps no record of  any wrong.  Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with truth.  Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.  Love never fails."
My question is this: What if love is the answer? 
What would we be like if we truly love ourselves in light of the above scripture?  Would we only tell ourselves the truth?  Would we know our truth?
Could we exist in the world if there were no love?  What could the world be if each one of us were able to love ourselves and spread that love to the others in our immediate circles and each one of them did the same?
Love may or not be the answer to all of life's problems, but it certainly shouldn't be so easily dismissed.  Besides, isn't love worth trying?

An Expanded Way to Achieve Creative Living

I recently came across an updated version of the book that changed my life and turned me toward the path of my own spiritual awakening.
I know that everything in my life has been a part of this wonderful, wild journey towards awakening, but I can say without a doubt that reading this book was a defining moment that allowed me to not only think outside the box of my father's fire and brimstone religion, but to actually make movement towards the greater reality of my own power.
I believe that we are much more than our physical beings and as such, we shape our own realities. I believe that we are all an integral part of the Divine Spirit that flows in, around and through us, and because of that, we can tap into that higher power and turn our life into one of great possibilities.  This book helped shape those beliefs.  It has allowed me to shift my perception of reality into one that allows for an expanded consciousness, and truly, a great awakening.

I initially read The Crack in the Cosmic Egg after listening to a speaker recommend this book to all his staff.
I started reading with a little trepidation.  After all, this was a book that was subtitled "Challenging Constructs of Mind and Reality."  The back cover read "... enters into universal creation, cosmic energy, don Juan's teaching, etc., rebuilding and destroying previous beliefs..."
 I have to say though, it wasn't an easy read.  I would catch myself reading the same paragraph over and over in order to understand everything the author was saying.  It was a mind expanding, intellectual journey and I don't regret one word of it.  It was the beginning of my pursuit to discover new thought spirituality, achieve creative living, expand my awareness and shift my reality.  I can't wait to read this updated version of The Crack in the Cosmic Egg: New Constructs of Mind and Reality.  
 I've also downloaded the author's most recent work The Heart-Mind Matrix: How the Heart Can Teach the Mind New Ways to Think.  Now if only I could decide which one to read first!

Getting Into Alignment

I've had a rough week.  One of my pets had to be put to sleep this week because a cancerous tumor spread rapidly and his body began shutting down.
In reflection, I don't know if I've ever known unconditional love except that of my dogs.  Family hopefully loves you always, and yet they judge your actions and view you in the perspective of the "you should have" or "you could have..."  In reality, other humans judge you according to their values.
Winston, my 12 year old Italian Greyhound loved me unconditionally.  I love him, I miss his physical presence, and I will always carry him in my heart.

So what does any of this have to do with getting into alignment?  I've had a rough week.  There were days I forgot to meditate.  There were times throughout the week that I didn't ground myself.  I got lost in my grief and forgot about taking care of myself and maintaining my connection to the Divine.
I believe that we are always connected to the Divine.  I believe that nothing can separate us from the Love of God.  That being said, I also believe that is it our responsibility to do everything we are capable of maintaining that connection with the Divine.  Sometimes, that may mean that we do nothing more than simply surrender; it may mean that we pray or meditate once or several times a day;  we may spend time in nature; or light a candle and say a mantra.
I've always been good at handling stress.  I guess I took that for granted this week, because stress has a way of affecting the physical body.  I noticed it today.  It was the first day back to work after taking Winston to the clinic, and I was suffering stomach issues to the point I thought I would have to stay home.
I began my 30 minute drive to work by listening to Krishna Das' album "My Pilgrim Heart."  Krishna Das is probably the best known American singer of Indian style devotional music.  I like the uniqueness of his voice and the blending of some traditional gospel with Indian devotional music.  There are several mantras sung on this album, and chanting along with some of these mantras always brings me to the place of feeling grounded.
I was about 15 minutes into my drive when I realized that I hadn't taken the time all week to sit with 'quiet mind' and allow myself to remain open and connected to the Divine.
So I'm off work and now I'm giving myself permission and time to get into alignment.  What does that mean for me?  It means letting go of my grief, and allowing myself to accept all that is as it is.  It means knowing that my grief has served its purpose and giving myself permission to feel grief as it comes, but remaining conscious of my connection to the Divine Infinite Spirit.  It also means 10 to 20 minutes of quiet mind, and 15 minutes of clearing my chakras and getting them into alignment.  It means I won't hold stress in my body, and that I am in a healthy state.  It also means that I am grateful for the time I got to spend with Winston, and I'm grateful again for the opportunity to experience unconditional love.

Driving Out the Darkness; Driving Out the Hate

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"...be at peace with God..."

"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love – for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment is it perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you from misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world."   - Max Ehrmann

Meditation, Ritual and Favorite Practice

 I love getting into that place where I can dim the lights, burn some incense, and sit in silence. 

No electronics.  No interruptions.  No background noise, save what comes through the open window.

 It is in this space that I feel the most grounded.  Once my body and mind are stilled, I simply rest in the presence of Spirit.  Space and time cease to exist; Everything becomes light.  I carry no burdens.  I simply allow myself to be.

These are moments of experiencing the Divine and I become a receptacle of complete, unconditional love and full serenity.

After being in this state of 'oneness' (it could be 20 minutes or 2 hours) I may do a meditation as compelled.  Sometimes, I'll do a chakra clearing meditation.  Other times I may do a color meditation, where I pick the color that corresponds to one of the chakra centers and visualize a cloud of that color opening, filling and expanding that specific chakra center.

One of my favorite meditations is what i call the "Expanding Heart" meditation.  While connected to Source, I imagine my heart expanding.  As I visualize it expanding, I silently say "My heart is expanding and I carry (someone's name) in my heart."  I might switch it around a little and say "My heart is expanding and I have room in my heart for (someone's name.)"  I do this for the people currently in my life, being sure to include those that are or have been special to me, as well as those with whom I have experienced difficulty.  I visualize that person entering my expanded heart, and I send them love.

This is an amazing meditation after encountering unpleasant people throughout the day, or after a challenging drive home.  It allows me to clear any negative emotions I may harbor in my unconscious, and it allows me to open and expand my heart chakra.  It also allows me to feel very connected to the people who have a meaningful place in my life.

I have just begun using this meditation to include those whom are personally unknown to me, but may encounter my spirit through writing or third party conversations.  Yes, I have room in my heart for you, and I send you love.

If you struggle with difficult people, I recommend trying this meditation.  I've experienced some amazing healing of family relationships after doing this meditation.  I have also encountered sensing physical illness in others while practicing this meditation.  When sensing physical illness or emotional pain in others during this meditation, I take the time to do some remote energy work in addition to sending them love. The results can be miraculous. 

You Were Born to Fly

Keeping In Touch With Our Own Humanity

Sometimes I feel like I'm really in the flow of Spirit, where everything is going along smoothly, and I'm in a state of bliss all the time.  When this happens, I am amazed at how easy it is to write because the words come from a higher power.  I tend to write a lot when I'm in this state of being.

Other times it seems as if I go into spiritual hibernation. I shut out the world as much as one can while going on with living their daily life which includes going to work, walking the dogs and running the kind of errands one has to do to survive.  I still meditate and do some other daily spiritual practices, but it feels much more difficult to "get into" the flow.

It took me a while to realize that I can never really leave the flow, and even when I feel like life is not flowing smoothly, I am always in the midst of the Divine.  Spirit is eternal and ever flowing through us.

There are times I am just more aware of the divine spirit within me, just as there are times I am more aware of my humanity.  Being more aware of one side does not negate the presence, power and influence of the other.  We are both divine and human.  That is the nature of our duality.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience, but we are also human beings having a spiritual experience.

As much as I enjoy living on the spiritual mountain top, I also treasure living in the valleys because doing so allows me to stay grounded and to appreciate the mountain top so much more.  This reminds me of the phrase my parents used to say: "He's so heavenly minded that he's no earthly good."

I believe one of our purposes in this lifetime is to to be of earthly good.  We did not choose to come into this time and space just for our own sake.  We are here in this moment and time to assist in bringing a higher consciousness to all humanity.  We cannot remain so long with our head in the clouds that we are of no earthly good.  To do so would to deny our greater purpose.

Being aware of the divine is sublime, being aware of humanity keeps us humble.  We can only share our light with others by keeping in touch with our own humanity.

Born to Remember, Born to Awaken

You were born out of a billion galaxies; a single star born as an overwhelming point of light in the swirl of all humanity.  You were formed in love and light.

Your purpose in this time and space is to awaken.

You are not here to learn anything new; you are here to remember what you have already forgotten.  Darkness, fear, and doubt are just illusions.  Your true light cannot be darkened, and it burns bright within you.  The power of the Divine flows through you, for it is also within you, and its light cannot be dimmed.  Your awakening has begun.

Gaze into the heavens and remember your true Self.  Remember the Divinity of the entire universe that fills and indwells your being.  Remember the planning and precision that formed your being.  Know that you were created in magnificent and endless love. 

As the Divine is the center of your being, so also are you the center of the Divine.  Gaze upon the stars in the night sky and remember your connection to the source of all life.  Remember this feeling.  Let it fill you with joy and wonder.  This is your true self.  This is your Divine Self.  This is your awakening.

It is worthless to seek outside yourself those things which you believe can bring you fulfillment, for the very act of seeking implies separation.  You cannot be separated from Divine Source; it is from Divine Source you were created.

Your Higher Self cannot be found outside of yourself.  A higher vibration can only be remembered within.  Remember it now.  Raise your vibration to the place that is yours by divine right.

KNOW that all source flows through your being.

ALL source flows through your being. 

You were born that you might know your place among the stars of the heavens.  You are a bright and luminous being with all the energy of the universe supporting you.  You were born to remember.  You were born to awaken.

"...I realized the goal of loving people isn't for a happy ending."

my friend the murderer

I shared this story a few years ago, but it is one of my favorites. It is a story that changed my view of how the Church should work. It involves a baby, a man named Merlin & most importantly…a murderer.  

Read the rest of this here...
http://larkandbloom.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/my-friend-the-murderer/

God Is Not A White Man

So I realize this is an older video, but I've never even heard this song before.  It's got a catchy chorus, and the message is pretty good.  I thought it was worth sharing.  Enjoy!

Simple Meditation Exercises for Busy People

Want To Quiet Your Mind, Supercharge Your Energy Level & Manifest What You Truly Desire In Life?  We've created a FREE audio e-course with meditation techniques to get you started. You'll get guided meditations to help you transform your life from the inside-out. If your happiness is important, click here.

Thoughts on the Nature of God

It is only when we recognize our connection to the Divine that we began to awaken to the truth of not only our wholeness, but to the oneness that we share with all beings.

I grew up believing in the concept of man's separateness from God.  He was a rewarding God, but he was also a punishing God.  He was the external threat to keep our behavior in line with the expectations of others.  Consequently, the love of God became something to be earned; the fear of God became the motivating force for good behavior.

Even as a young child, this concept of separation from God never made sense to me.  If God is omnipresent, how could he be outside of our self?  If God is love, how can he withhold himself from us?  These were all unanswered questions until recently when I began to study the nature of God.

My realization began with the understanding that God is inside our Self, not separate and apart.  One doesn't have to go seeking to find God.  One only has to realize that because God is all, God is in all.  God is the creative source of the Universe.  We cannot separate our Self from our Source, the core of our being.  We cannot be separate from the Divine, because we are the living, breathing nature of God.  We are his Divine expression.

Because God is the source of all, we don't need to go to God for anything, because God is already inside of us.  He knows our needs before we can even ask.

It makes no sense to pray to the sun and ask for more warmth or more light.  The sun can only fulfill itself as the sun.  So it is with the nature of God.  God cannot give more than he is.  He can only fulfill himself as himself.  He is source.  He is fulfillment.  He is love.

Opening our Self to the Divine is really just awakening to the Divine already within us.  It is the realization that there is no separation between our Self and God.

I am God at the core of my being.  There can be no separation between my Self and God.  There is no lack because I am Source at the core of my being.  Source and I cannot be separate, because we are one.

Even as the sun gives all the light and warmth that it has, so does Source give all that it has.  It does not withhold as punishment, neither does it fulfill as reward.  Source can only fulfill itself as itself.

This is the nature of God:  He does not punish or reward.  He causes it to rain on the just and the unjust.  He gives freely to all because that is his nature.  He cannot withhold himself or any attribute of himself; do to so would deny his nature.  God is.

Awakening Soul

"I will not die an unlived life..."

Knowing God

From an upcoming post on knowing God:

"In seeing the true nature of God, one begins to realize that God is inside of our self, not separate and apart.  One doesn’t have to go seeking to find God.  One only has to realize that because God is all, God is in all."