(The photo above was taken by me at Vernal Falls Yosemite National Forest in California).
One of the ways that people have been programmed when it comes to life is that they see everything that bars them from what they want as an obstacle. Part of this has to do with the Ego that sees everything as a fight for dominance and wanting to attack anything that opposes it's will. Yet, that's not how it has to be in life. We can see things as opportunities for growth and not obstacles. When you learn to 'know' yourself and that you are One with Source(God) Always...everything else is just water under the bridge. There are temporary eddies and flows in the experience of life while the bridge remains the same. No one gets upset that the water flows below a bridge. We know that the water is constantly changing...but the Bridge, apart from a flood, remains unchanged. Until we build that Bridge to Source with our Mind we are beholden to riding on the eddies and flows...upon the rickety ship of an Untamed Mind. Wants and Needs At a certain point on the spiritual path you discover that are already total abundance and we already have everything we need in the moment. When you realize that it's natural that everything simply flows naturally. That's a way of living where you are at one with your environment and the rest of the world. For now, I don't expect people to have reached that point. Psychology talks about Wants and Needs. Even educating oneself on this topic you can learn a lot of good information. Often people don't even know what the difference is between wants and needs. In the United States we live in a country of abundance where even the 'poor' have smart phones worth hundreds of dollars. Most people want items because of the status that it will give them believing that if they are valued by others they will find value in themselves. In such a society when even minor set backs, such as a broken screen, occurs the people see everything that 'sets them back' as wrong and evil. This is a misuse of will power and perspective. Maslow's hierarchy of Needs is a very good tool. The basic rungs, which many people in other countries can't attain, consists of shelter and safety. While safety can be subjective (a multi-millionaire in a gated community may not feel safe) it is a fundamental need that has to be met before a person can work on an inner path. As long as we are seeking safety not only will we probably not find it but we won't have time to do things such as Yoga or Meditation. Those are luxuries that people who live in a war zone do not have. For most of us who live in the United States when you make an assessment of your life you find that most of your most fundamental needs are met. Maybe the unrealistic goals society has set or the formula that's put forth as the American Dream hasn't been met...but for the most part in the United States we are overwhelmingly abundant. We have everything we need to start the inward journey of hte spiritual path and what more, is there really, that we can want? If we are so busy chasing the 'latest and greatest' trying to obtain some sense of perfection by obtaining something on the outside...then we won't take the time to work on ourselves. The greatest direction of any Spiritual Teaching are the words, "Know Thyself." Work A lot of people would prefer not to have a job. How much easier would life be if you could just stay at home all of the time? Yet, that is not how our society is set up. In fact, people have a plethora of choices when it comes to vocation even if they don't have a degree. There are a lot of jobs out there. The Natural Order is that we work to provide sustenance for our bodies and shelter. From the days of agriculture, through the industrial age and into the technological age that is the way it is naturally. Everyone can contribute and work. Yet, the problem is most people do okay at a job they hate. Most people think that's the natural experience. There are a multitude of reasons that people might hate their job. They may dislike a certain person. They may dislike their schedule. They may just not like going to work every day. Whatever their reason...it's their perception of their job that's the problem not the people that work there, the managers or the job itself. Yet, if people just framed it differently their job could add a lot of value to their life. Work, and being around others is always an Opportunity to learn more about yourself. As I explain in my blog Seeing God In Others (http://bridgetkorns.weebly.com/blog/seeing-god-in-others) every time you interact with another person you learn more about yourself and God/Source. To me it is an excellent opportunity to learn more about myself and humanity. Every interaction is a test, to see who patient, kind and loving I can be to my fellow human beings. The Angry Person We've all seen them. Sometimes you encounter people who are just angry. They seem to come from nowhere, and because your a stranger, they can take their anger out on you. This most often happens when you are working somewhere because people see service workers as robots that are programmed with the mantra, "The Customer Is Always Right" or, "The Customer Is King." I see these people as a challenge and an opportunity to rise to the occasion. No matter how mean or rude they are I treat them as I do everyone else...I ask them how their day is and if they don't say it was good I ask why. Even if people say their day is "okay" or "fine" I comment, "Ah, but not good?" Usually, I can reach through that turtle shell of anger to the softness of a person and offer them some positive energy. I give them a choice to continue to be angry or be a little bit more positive. Sometimes this doesn't work. When it doesn't work I don't beat myself up because I know I tried my best to be of service and help another human being. I know it is entirely them and I don't take on their negative energy. Each time you interact with a person, if they haven't done the work necessary, you are dealing with all of their unresolved past baggage. They are projecting onto you the issues they had with their parents. They are projecting onto you the issue that they are having with their boss. They can't tell their loved ones, boss or coworkers they are mad at them or yell at them because they are afraid they will experience pain. So, they disown that pain and project it on people that can't retaliate. Setbacks We've all faced setbacks...sometimes it's a financial set back and sometimes we just don't get what we want. We go to the store and the particular item that we want is sold out. Yes, we could whine complain and stomp our foot we did not get what we wanted and fate is cruel. Yet, if we think outside of the box we might discover something equally desirable that might fit our needs better then what we went to buy. When my husband and I were looking for houses we saw a really beautiful house. The fence was terrible but we put in an offer for what we thought the house was worth because we would have to repair their fence. We were sad when the owners were insulted by our offer. Then, we found a really awesome house that was much better than the one that we put in an offer for...and it suited our needs far better. While we could have dwelt on the failure of one of our first offer...it turns out that it worked out and the house we bought was a thousand times better. This is what happens most of the time. We set out an intention, we set our eyes on what we think we want...but the universe provides something far superior we might not have considered if our first attempt hadn't failed. When we don't get what we want it often means there is something better for us. When Plans Fail When our best laid plans fail it is often for a reason. While I would never ever want to go through the loss of my Daughter I can see a rhyme and reason. I was knocked off my career path completely...and I returned to my spiritual path to amazing rewards (three years later and after a lot of traumatic struggle). I could have become lost in the fact that the plan to have children had failed. I could choose to never get over that failure and just to throw in the towel on everything else. I could let that failure define my life. Instead, I see now the flaws in that plan and how if it had worked out I might not have found the place of peace in which I mentally now reside. I might not have met all of the wonderful people I now work with and the best friend I've ever had named Jennifer. Often times when our plans fail we don't consider that there is something better just beyond that Dark Night of the Soul...and when you are in the depth of that failure and mourning that failure it is hard to see the forest for the trees. Yet, from a Higher Perspective, there is a rhyme and reason. Letting go of expectations when you make plans is a very hard skill to learn. That intention that you set might be your will but it has to be delivered through divine timing....and sometimes you receive something better than you can imagine in a way you never would have imagined. The problem is that it involves a very deep Trust of God/Source/All-That-IS to bring what will serve you best into your life. A lot of people don't have that trust. Either they think they are some how responsible for creating it or they hold a belief on a core level that is out of alignment with receiving what they want. Often, that core belief is one of unworthiness. I thought that it was a major setback when I accepted my current job. I was no longer in management and I was extremely humbled. Yet, in many facets it was the perfect job for me in the moment to find healing. Devils Advocate We all know that person who likes to play the Devil's Advocate in our life. We just don't like them and for all intents and purposes they are playing the role of an enemy in our life. Devils Advocates, the people we find most challenging can be our greatest teachers about ourselves. When the lesson is complete they should leave our lives. They also represent the best opportunity to hone our interpersonal skills. If you go by the idea that we are all reflections of the divine they are just as divine as you and I. They might not be aware of it but that's usually because they are suffering. Those who are not joyful are those who have yet to learn or accept the Oneness of Life and so are in a state of suffering. Yet, how else are we truly tested? If we cannot find a place in our heart to love even those who think of themselves as our enemy we will never understand them. We need to understand them because they are a faucet of the divine and are also an aspect of ourselves. What we hate in others is what we hate in ourselves. The only reason we despise others is because we disown whatever they represent to us. I know someone who is extremely undependable at work. I know that I am undependable in social settings...with most friends...so, we have that in common. She disappoints co-workers and lets down her team...I let down people that are friends who want to share their life with me. At present, I have not learned how to heal this particular aspect of myself but I know what her presence represents and she is an opportunity to learn how to better flow within unpredictable situations and interruptions to my normal routine (a recent theme in my waking life). By working with these people we can learn to overcome our shortcomings that they reflect. When they are judgmental, hateful, condemning or nosy we can see that we prefer not to behave that way. Then we can start applying what we've learned in day to day life...when the opportunity arises where we could pronounce judgement on someone we refrain. Just as Jesus said, "He that hath not sinned cast the first stone," (John 8:7) we cannot pass judgement on the people who represent obstacles in our life because at some time or another we have done the same. These people can be our greatest teachers and often they have a soul contract with us to play the role as a catalyst. We also know that, "You reap what you sow," so on some level at some time they will pay for the experience they are creating. They will, one day, be the victim of the same evil that they use against us...it might take a while to get back to them but energy always find it's way back to it's source. If we can manage to be the better human being...more honest in our communication with them, as patient with them as we would be an unruly toddler, and more understanding of the reasons for their failures...then we know that we truly have overcome the vindictive and spiteful nature that seems to be inherent to the Ego and the human condition. Every time we are able to turn the cheek in understanding of the suffering of the person who incorrectly uses their will power upon us...we show that we are deserving of the same compassion and understanding when we do stumble. With the law of karma, what we do unto others will be done unto us and usually magnified as warranted by our act...because energy always returns to it's source. Any time someone uses their will power upon us they are sending an amount of energy. The only time that effects us is if we accept that energy. There is a old story about a samurai master that was floating around the internet a while back. In it a young man went to the dojo where the samurai was teaching. He went to the Master and wanted to fight him. When the master declined he called him names hoping to incite his anger so that he would fight. The master ignored him. Eventually the many left but the samurai master's students were upset. One asked him why he did not fight. He explained that Anger was a gift that the man was trying to give. He chose not to receive that anger and so the anger remained with the man. We all have the choice to receive negative energy or intent from others. We can choose to be patient and loving instead. They then keep their energy that they were trying to project. Taking on other people's energy is taking on their burden and it is a misapplication of Will Power. Our reward for being tolerant, compassionate and loving with even those who choose to be spiritually ugly aspects of humanity is a testimony to our relationship with Source/God/All-That-Is. Every person we meet offers the opportunity to know the Divine a little bit more. Sometimes, they are not connected to Source and they manifest something terrible but then we can see it as a lesson on suffering. Conclusion Seeing Opportunities for growth as opposed to Obstacles can be a bit tough. This requires a great deal of spiritual and emotional maturity. As long as we haven't deal with our own baggage that other person might trigger us. Once we have worked through our beliefs and emotional baggage we can really see the person. That person is usually suffering Double Mindedness and suffering. Insane people never know that they are insane or illogical. This also requires Trust in the Natural Order and God/Source/All-That-IS. Yet, once we train our mind to see set backs, failed plans, angry people...and all the seemingly random bad things in a more positive framework the entire experience changes. We then find all of those things that we would label as 'bad' and that we would say made us a 'victim' were opportunities for self-improvement and self-knoweldge in disguise. These opportunities include a chance to demonstrate our patience, our good will towards others, our love for our fellow human beings, our compassion and our understanding. We may forgive the individual for being the way that they are because it is common in our world. Yet, we can still judge them by their actions and choose if we 'take them home with us.' Mostly, when we encounter negativity in others, such as an angry person, it's best not to take on that energy. We acknowledge it, we work with them trying to shine a more positive light into their day, but we let it go once they walk away. Yes, their actions might have been wronged but, having been there ourselves at some point in life, we know that it's just a product of their immense suffering.
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The Symphony of Life
In this final Creating Reality blog I want to finish off with Paradigm Shifts. At this point I think it's more than time to switch into the more spiritual aspect of things. In order to really understand how creating reality works and why we bother to create reality we need to look at it from the big picture of the Soul's narrative. This is, you could say, the connecting fabric between these two blog series. I am attempting to build this blog in a way to convey my current focuses. However, instead of just dumping you into the middle of a process that has developed for about twenty years I'm crafting each plate to be easily digestible. The Creating Reality Blogs are just the appetizers. Each soul in this world has a particular unique song. That song joins the chorus of all souls on this planet creating an even more beautiful and complex song. In my own journey I am currently learning to refine my own personal song and to have the courage to sing it. The Paradigm Shift is a very important aspect of this process. My Experience I first learned about Paradigm Shifts in High School. I was coming out of my more religious phase (1994-1996) when I first encountered the idea. We talked about a lot of strange subjects in my Honor's English Class. At that time I was very shy and not very good at participating in group activities. This was just many of the strange but unique spiritual situations I found myself in as a child that prompted me to have a never ending Spiritual Focus in life. A Paradigm Shift is: "A fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions." More or less, it is an idea or perspective that causes your view of the world around you to shift- to change into something different than it was before. You then begin to approach life in a different way. The First Paradigm Shift My first Paradigm Shift was reading the book Journey of Souls. I found the idea of reincarnation, let alone life in between lives, to be incredibly strange. I had recently delved deep into Christianity, reading the bible from cover to cover and Christian books such as The Case for Christ. The book of Matthew is still my favorite out of the entire bible. I even had several bible quotes on the door of my room when I was a teenager. The strange thing, when I was reading Journey of Souls, is that it did not contradict the bible. In fact, as I read the many case studies I was reminded of passages of the bible...and that was my first Paradigm Shift. Instead of rejecting Reincarnation because hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Christian authorities in the past and current time rejected it I discovered that it actually fit nicely. This is much like those who read or watched Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. The idea that Jesus family has descendants is one thing entirely to comprehend but to add to it that Jesus might have had children is an entirely other. However, the idea does not contradict the bible in any way but it does contradict thousands of years of religious authority figures teachings. These teachings, when you apply a little research, seem to be based on ideas that existed over a hundred years after the death of Yeshua by people who did not know him. (Not to mention his true Jewish name being lost in time). Shifting Constantly Evaluating our Belief System is a very healthy habit that should be given serious attention. However, I did not include an important part of that idea. When we realize a set of beliefs are negative and produce negative results, we reevaluate it and apply a new belief- then we experience a Paradigm Shift. Usually, when I approach an idea that causes a Paradigm Shift I start off feeling dissonance (mental disharmony). Ideas that challenge my view of life gives me a sort of tingling feeling. Those who have a rigid set of beliefs feel uncomfortable and might turn away from the feeling. However, once I became used to it and learned to enjoy the challenge I discovered something fascinating. These days I seek out that which causes dissonance and my Paradigm is constantly shifting. I'm constantly readjusting or tweaking the way I see this world. I kind of consider it like Doctor Who when he's in the T.A.R.D.I.S. and he's turning dials or pushing levers to 'dial into' the location he wants to go. With each adjustment that I make in my perspective I feel I'm getting closer to the experiences I want to have. The people who don't believe that they can change anything, that they are stuck in a box, that reality happens to them instead of being created by them...probably can't imagine a life of constantly Shifting Paradigms. I feel sorry for those who live in such a world of black and white. Wrong and right. I can no longer imagine what it is like to live in a world without the color of the rainbow...for each perspective I have experienced as I go about this journey seems to have its own tone and color. In The Flow When I was young I read books such as Celestine Prophecy and The Way of The Peaceful Warrior. Both of these authors wrote a story that has the basic set up of the Heroe's Journey (which I will coverlater). Joseph Campbell was the first to tune into the story of the Hero's Journey, realizing that it is the basic set up of any good myth or story. No doubt it was Joseph Campbell's contribution to Star Wars that touched the heart of millions making it a main stay in popular culture. In these cases the author used the methodology of parables that Jesus used to illustrate spiritual concepts and the spiritual journey. Jesus used these because the ideas he taught were so foreign (such a different paradigm) to the ordinary people he had to speak their language. I personally think, as a society, we have graduated from this basic idea. People are initiated and are ready for the openly frank discussion of spiritual concepts. There is an urgent need to put away the secrecy and divulge the information as many have had their spiritual appetite whetted long ago. Now in these stories they would talk about some mysterious thing called the Flow or the Zone. I couldn't comprehend it when I was younger. For the Star Wars people, let's call this The Force. Then I worked at UPS and while loading trailers I experienced 'The Zone' that athletes describe for the first time. There is this moment where the mind and the body act in unison but there is a strange detachment. There is no thinking, no planning, no trying to make something happen...you just do it without really thinking. I would create beautiful seamless walls of packages in that zone without trying. I experience this also when I'm making drinks as a barista, I seem to move with the fluidity of a dancer without a real conscious thought...just instinctively effortlessly creating. I am also in the flow when I'm writing. The conclusion at the end of this blog is one of the moments where mind, body and soul seem to work in unison so that the words simply flow out and onto the computer screen effortlessly without much 'thought' on my part. Constantly shifting paradigms in the flow is my favorite experience at the moment. Life seems to unfold much as a blooming flower does with an over abundance of experiences in tune with my current spiritual focus. If there is a discordant note I know that there is something I need to focus on in my belief system that needs to be tweaked so I may bring that into harmony. Conclusion Life is similar to a symphony. Our belief systems are the musical notes. If we live in a way where there are only a few notes we experience a simple song that is bland and repetitive...often times jarring. When we open our eyes to other ideas, we shift paradigms, we begin to add notes to that symphony and sometimes entire instruments. Then we can start to experience the whole symphony instead of focusing on two notes or a single instrument. As long as we are focused on perfecting an instrument or note we will never experience the entire creation. However, I cannot judge those who choose this focus in their current life as that too is a perfectly worthy experience that will lead to other lives where they can experience the entire song of creation by perfecting their unique part. When we hear a discordant note in the symphony we can seek out the belief system causing the disturbance. We can then research or meditate on it until we reach a paradigm shift (there are always options and choices)...that then change the note to one of harmony. Eventually, we will be able to flow with the music, adjusting it here or there as needed. We aren't necessarily the conductor, but we work with the conductor to create the symphony so that all of us (including the conductor) can share the experience. Once we are working in harmony with the whole our experiences simply flow naturally just as a brook flowing in it's naturally cut channel without any forced conscious direction. |
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Thank You For Visiting
Brave Soul! May Your Journey On The Path Of The Seeker Bring You Joy and Peace! I'm currently posting every Saturday. With a new addition the family I have pre-scheduled most posts through December 2022. Full Moon Posts will contain up-to-date content when I can get to them. Thank you so much for your support and understanding! This is a place where you can encounter new spiritual ideas that have helped me develop as an Individual On The Path of the Seeker. Take or Leave this information as you see fit. Archives
April 2024
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