Category Archives: Spirituality
Shine!
We live in a time of great darkness. We may feel driven to fight against the darkness. If this is your path I would like to give a word of caution that is can be difficult to fight without becoming what we are fighting.
This is the time I believe we are being called to remember. To remember who we are and where we came from. To remember our light and our spiritual power.
We are light and what this world so desperately needs right now is for all of us to shine. We change the world by the way that we live. We don’t have to try to judge, teach or change anyone. When others see the light shining through us they will come to us. They will see that we are different and will want to know more.
The month of December is a difficult time for many people. The time when we speak of peace on earth goodwill to all can also be a time of anger, feeling that we are the only ones with the truth, greed, materialism and other displays of human frailty. This is the time to stay true to your calling and not get caught up in petty squabbles over celebrations, what is being celebrated or appropriate holiday greetings.
This is the time we must focus on the light that we are and walk in it. So this holiday season go out there and SHINE!
What does shining your light look like in your life? Please take time to ponder this question. Think about it, journal, create art, answer the question in the comments below, whatever you feel led to do.
Being Summoned to Make a Transition
“In the hero stories, the call to go on a journey takes the form of a loss, an error, a wound, an unexplainable longing, or a sense of a mission. When any of these happens to us, we are being summoned to make a transition. It will always mean leaving something behind,…The paradox here is that loss is a path to gain.”
― David Richo, How to Be an Adult: A Handbook on Psychological and Spiritual Integration
Everything Has Seasons
“Everything has seasons, and we have to be able to recognize when something’s time has passed and be able to move into the next season. Everything that is alive requires pruning as well, which is a great metaphor for endings.” —Henry Cloud
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/seasons
To Everything There is a Season…
You may be familiar with these words from the beautiful poetry of the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. Or perhaps you are more familiar with the musical setting by Pete Seegar known as Turn, Turn, Turn or popular renditions by Judy Collins or The Byrds.
These are words people turn to for comfort in times of change. This is a Scripture that is often read at funerals. So why do we find these words so comforting and reassuring? I believe it is because they speak to us of Divine Order. They remind us that life does have “seasons” that come and go, but the world keeps turning and life goes on. To everything there is a season…
Transitions
The Espirational.com theme for October is “Transitions.”
The world around us is in a constant state of change, often forcing us to change too. Scattered among the changes are the major life transitions we all face throughout life, from birth to death with some good ones like moving from childhood to adolescence and adolescence to adulthood, marriage (and sometimes divorce), aging, career changes and spiritual awakening scattered in between.
So how do we navigate this maze of transitions throughout our life? This is what we will explore during October here at Espirational.com
Independence or Interdependence?
Have you noticed that the world seems to have gone a little overboard in terms of independence? I was shocked one day to sit in a restaurant and overhear a rather loud discussion among a group of older adults. I couldn’t believe these people were saying that everything they had accomplished in life they did on their own, no one ever helped them. Really? Where were their parents, teachers, employers, friends?
No one can survive totally on their own, without others. Life in this world is not always easy. We need each other.
Now I’m not talking about giving control of our minds or lives over to another person. I’m talking about interdependence. I like the definition from Wikipedia which defines interdependence as “mutual reliance between two or more groups.” The key word here is “mutual.” We’re not talking about one person or group controlling others. What we are talking about is people looking out for each other, caring and working together for the common good.
I believe an extreme belief in independence has been a contributing factor to the division and turmoil in much of the world today. We don’t have to agree with those around us to see that the world might be a better place if we could learn to work together. Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!
Let Go of Your Story to Find Freedom
“Let go of your story so the universe can write a new one for you.” Marianne Williamson
This is a time when we are usually thinking of freedom and independence in political terms, but I want to go a little different direction here. Let’s talk for a minute about the freedom to create our own reality and thereby change the world.
I loved this quote the minute I saw it. Marianne Williamson is a wise woman.
We get so caught up in our personal history (our stories, if you will) that we forget that we sometimes keep ourselves chained to the past, unable to move forward. This is something I know a little about.
For many years people who I have to believe meant well encouraged, and sometimes required me to keep repeating my story, over and over. My story became my identity and I was led to believe that is would never change. I was irreparably damaged. There was no way out. My story was who I was and would always be.
I tried not to believe it, but it wasn’t always easy. It has been a long and sometimes difficult journey to break free and reclaim my life. Writing a new story has not always been easy, but it has been so worth it.
It is not easy to let go of a story, but one freedom we always have is to change our mind. Change your mind, change your life.
That doesn’t mean denying or ignoring what happened in the past. It means beginning to look at the present moment and then toward a brighter future. Don’t worry if you haven’t “resolved your issues” yet. Issues get resolved when we commit to life and start to really live.
If your story has you in bondage, let go. The universe so wants to write you a new one.
This month our Thoughts for Today will be thoughts on freedom from well-known and not so well-known people from different walks of life.
So, the espirational question for July is, “What is freedom or living free for you? Let’s start a conversation and see where it leads us.
I AM and a Give Away
Before we met Bob wrote a poem called I AM.
A beautiful limited edition print of this poem was created with artwork by Margaret Nixon and Calligraphy by Jane Van Milligan. It comes with the printed words with scripture reference on a separate page.
We are conducting a drawing to give a copy of this print to one of our readers. Please enter the rafflecopter drawing by clicking here. The drawing ends at 12: AM on June 30 and the winner will announced on Monday July 2. But first take a minute to read the words.
I AM
The one who was, and is, and is to come, I AM. Alpha, the beginning, the creator, I AM.
I speak, and the earth is formed, and the light is there; the waters are divided from the dry land, and the light from the darkness.
Energy, time, light, darkness, all of these , I AM.
The father of man, of creatures, of life, I AM>.
I speak and grass, and herbs, and trees do grow; and animals, and birds, and insects and serpents do present themselves; even man.
Creation, life imaged, grantor of gifts, I AM.
The word, the spirit, the fact of all things, I AM.
I speak and the angels are; and authority is given; and Satan is given freedom, or bound; also testing allowed.
Strength, hope, happiness, the everlasting, I AM.
I AM Love, but was unloved, alone.
I AM needed my friends, my sons, my servants to love, to me love.
I AM offering perfect peace, trust, tranquility, and love.
I AM not selfish, and allow you another one to love.
I AM perfect, when he is punished so shall you be with your love.
I AM your Lord, your God, Christ;
I AM perfect Agape Love.
The one who was, and is, and is to come, I AM. Omga, the conclusion, the justice, I AM.
I speak and my voice brings down tyrants, dictators, bad masters, demons and Satan, and those not rused in my son’s book of life.
Truth, understanding, logic, honesty, I AM. Fit, undergirding, and absolute fact, I AM.
I speak and the present heaven and earth disappear, and a new heaven and a new earth appear, and there to rule is my son.
Beauty, loveliness, true life conceptions, I AM. Abraham’s , Jacob’s, and Moses’ God I AM.
I speak and the universe reacts as I think, all creation reacts as I think; but you I have freed to react.
Either love, hope, happiness and peace I AM.
Or hatred, confusion, sadness, and fear, he is.
Please enter the rafflecopter drawing by clicking here. The drawing ends at 12: AM on June 30 and the winner will announced on Monday July 2.
Dwelling in the Secret Place
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1 King James Version of the Bible via Bible Gateway
I encourage you to read the entire 91st Psalm. This is a beautiful and comforting Scripture passage. I prefer the beauty of the words of the King James Version for the Psalms.
So what does it mean to dwell (or live) “in” the secret place of the most High? Is it even possible?
Living in the Presence of God
For me living in the secret place is living and walking in the conscious awareness of the presence of God. Is it possible? Absolutely? Do I always live there? Well — to be totally honest — no.
There are moments of complete and total surrender to the presence of God. These are mystical experiences that are beyond explanation. Then there are moments of quiet awareness that God is here, now, walking beside me.
Slipping Away
Then there are times of complete and utter chaos complete with wailing and gnashing of teeth. Those are the times I get caught up in the business of daily life and trying to plan, organize and just generally make things work.
Running Back
Do I regret these when I realize what I have done and the mess I have created?. You bet. Do these experiences send me running back to that secret place? — Do I even need to answer that one?
The Secret Place
The shadow of the almighty is a cool, calm, peaceful place to rest, renew and be protected. We can live in this secret place, but being human we often think we can do things on our own. But when we learn, once again, that we can’t we return to God.
Perhaps in time those ventures into the chaos of the world will become fewer and fewer. Perhaps in time, when we feel ourselves beginning to slip away from the presence of God, we will remember that perfect union with the Divine and we won’t want to follow the world.
What is dwelling in the secret place for you? Please leave your answer in the comment section and let’s talk.