A Spiritual Credo

When I write, I never know whether to write in a "you" tone or an "I" tone. I mean, I write to enjoy myself and feel good- it's what I love to do. But I also write in the hopes that my experience will be helpful and can provide guidance to others who may be going through the same thing. Perhaps I'll put words to paper in a way that combines both, and see how that works. I tell a story here only through the lens of my own life. Maybe some, none or all will apply to you. Believe your own heart above all.

Some of you may be noticing significant changes in yourself and others. I know I have. It seems like everything is being called into question. Sometimes I get flashes of not knowing who the hell I am! But I know that's good, in that it means that I am allowing myself to become a new, renewed person in this very moment. And becoming reborn frees us; it prevents each of us from feeling constrained by our past experience and labels- whether they are based on our parents' opinions of us, our own life moments, astrology, psychological analyses, or whatever. We are so much more than the sum of our labels, and can overcome any and all of our past experiences and past pigeonholes, whether from ourselves or others.. We don't have to get rid of our identity and ego, never to return again. Just remain flexible, and realize that you are what you make of yourself.

Many of us are starting to feel called to do more, be more. We are called upon to raise our expectations both of ourselves and that of the world around us. Do you feel a deep yearning, a hunger in your heart and soul? Perhaps as humans we have always had that yearning. But many of us now also desire, from the deep core of our beings, to have peace, happiness, comfort, joy, companionship, beauty, and a protected natural environment. Many of us are waking up to the conviction that we are to spread light and consciousness around the world. . Those who begin working in this capacity are sometimes called lightworkers, or other terms.

There is a a great movement that began years ago, and most recently seemed to coincide (at least for me) around the time of the release of the movie "The Secret." We are beginning to realize the power that our thoughts and intention have, and that our thoughts create our reality. However, our call is to use that message to lift the world and ourselves up - to create positive and lasting change in the fabric of our planet. Focusing our intention on material things ("I want to get that red bike") is a powerful step, but is not the highest use of that power. I will talk below about what some of one's "first steps" toward spirituality may look like, and some of the dangers within.

There has been much popularity lately of feel-good motivational speakers and books. Many of these can be helpful, especially in the physical plane- such as how to get rich, or more successful. They help to eliminate fear and begin a new way of positive thinking. However, these also are incomplete teachings; they are a beginning or entry point into the much wider ocean of spirituality. These teachings may also have an ego focus, in which the end product is to only get more successful in the material world, and grow in monetary success.. This can be seen as a natural process, in which our burgeoning spirituality wants to improve everything, but starts with what we know -- money and our third dimension of the earth physical plane. Our mission is to stay in balance- not obsess about our safety or financial security so that it becomes an end in itself.

Many of us, especially women, may have had sadness in the past, and felt obligated to live much of lives in duty, and in taking care of others' needs. As we outgrow this "dream" or way of thinking, many of us are guided by others who tell us to "do what you want"-- "What do I want now?". -What do "I" want? Is important for many of us as a "baby step" - striding into our own empowerment, getting in touch with ourselves, releasing our perceptions of duty and obligation. But is not the whole picture. We have to start broadening our worldview. We also have to also ask: what is the path for me now? How can I best serve God? What is the best decision to help others and the world? If there is no answer from one, feel free to use the other. There are many selves, and that voice is just one of the many voices of our soul and self. What does my soul crave? Is God/ Spirit/ the Earth, etc...telling me anything? Simply listening to the "I want" voice, gives simply a one-sided and incomplete picture.

As we grow as people and consistently work on our personal issues and emotional troubles/blocks, we realize that we no longer need fear. When we realize that anything is possible, we are open to a whole pantheon of new possibilities. Fear is what holds us back in our growth, but it is also what our current society is built on. The more you meditate on this, the more ways you see that it has pervaded our world: the more free you can become; but it may also turn your world upside down for a time! You will see illusions start to fall before your mind's eye.

This is the first, long, big step toward faith, since for most of us, the majority of each of our lives has been guided by fear. We act in a certain way because we fear what society or others will think of us; or we fear of losing our life, sanity, health, beauty, loved ones, money, and on and on, et al, ad nauseum. Another big one is scarcity thinking based on fear : I don't have enough time...money...food...etc. Even our very mental processes defined by logic can have an element of fear: "I don't want to do this, because in the past, I did that, and ____ and ____ happened, and I don't want that again." Logic based on past experiences can bind us to only one set of results; whereas with hope and faith, we can be open to an entirely new future.

As we begin to lose our attachment to fear, and fear loosens its grip on us, we grow in faith, and start to live from the heart. You can call it your soul, conscience, Higher Self, inner knowing, whatever you will. It's that calm, consistent, kind voice that guides us. "Maybe you could do that?" or "Perhaps you could do it this way?" It's only possible to hear your inner voice when you are without fear, free from lower-level urgent or negative emotions- in a centered, peaceful moment state. It is easiest to hear it when you are in a quiet, conducive environment.

You will know this voice- which you can tune into by focusing on the approximate actual location of your heart- when you compare it to the insistent, domineering, compulsive, fearful, loudmouth talk of your ego-mind-Saboteur-inner critic, or the tantrum-prone yells of your emotions or inner child. You may hear many voices at first- those of your body, your inner child, your emotions, etc. You will know that it is your Higher self when it is the kind, quiet, supportive, consistent voice.

But yet within, there is a double message. We are all to look into our higher selves for knowledge; but as we do that, we realize how many parts there are to ourselves. There are infinite dimensions, and as you study more, you can learn more about them on the internet, or by reading books, magazines, etc. There are selves of us on all dimensions, and in the past and future. And then we see that others are part of us, and that the world reflects our reality inside our minds. Just as there is a plurality of voices striving to be heard in our world- for democracy to reign- there is also a call to love, hear, and accept all of the voices inside us. We have the mind acting as our logical protective parent voice; the bratty selfish voice; the innocent, emotional inner kid voice; the best friend voice; our heart; our soul; our past life experience; our body voice such as pain, hunger, or pleasure; our spirit guides; our deceased loved ones; the voice of societal training; and so many more possibly to discover. And no two person's patterns of selves and voices are the same. What a miracle of uniqueness we all are!

As you start to tune into your voices daily, you will learn very fast, and the good voice will guide your ego into the right decisions for you. You begin to realize that everything will be OK, no matter what- even IF you die, even IF you lose someone, even if others call you negative things. God/ the Source is in control, and everything does happen for reason. The now moment is the richest moment that we have. It is when all of our other selves can present. Ideally, we live in the now moment, neither stuck in memories of the past nor expectations or fears of the future.I was always held prisoner by the fear of being called stupid or lazy or selfish. Those were the big ones!

This is all based on the very important lesson of faith, and not based on proof. So many will choose not to go the route of personal change and growth, and will choose to stick with what they have learned, and that they can prove with their logic or senses. This will cause personal growth to stop at a point and plateau for a while. How long? Maybe this life, or even more lifetimes. There is such a constant level and intensity of change right now, that it can be hard to adjust to. It feels tiring, exhausting, constantly testing. We are experiencing this so we can "LET GO".

Let go in areas that trouble you, even though that's the hardest thing to do! Feeling disturbed by physical things in your environment, self or around you is a sign that something is, more specifically, amiss in your mind, soul, or other higher selves. When you realize this, you start to see things from another perspective. When we live from the heart, our whole world changes! You may not want the same foods anymore, or the same friends, the same books, the same house, the same partner, etc. Making the choice to have faith is hard -- since it is the unknown, and so different from what you've done before. Yet, it is also so simple and easy. It gets better and easier with practice, so be patient with the lessons and their timing. All is as it should be.

Having faith is the obvious, wonderful, and necessary choice as time quickens, and as our lives get busier. We face tough choices and decide tough priorities; and admit that we really aren't in total control anymore. Complete control is just a lie we tell ourselves to stop from thinking that we are crazy. When we get obsessed with controlling one area of our lives, the other areas go out of balance. Have you noticed, whether we are calm or freak out about the way things are - things stay pretty much the same? The main thing that changes is our mood and our responses to our environment. We co-create our lives with God. We decide what we want in our deepest heart of hearts; and the Universe gets busy taking care of the how's and when's.

There are many books and websites written about these subjects, with different perspectives on this change and how it works. But it is all up to you! You can take quiet moments every day to reflect and be silent. This is a simple and very rewarding way to get in touch with your higher selves and your spiritual sides, to know the truth for yourself. This way, you can feel in your heart whether or not this, or anything, is true. If there is one fact that I want to impress upon you here, it is that! Take no one's word as pure fact; only within yourselves is the true truth to be revealed. We are all human ; and even the most enlightened of messengers or may not get every part of the message right! No longer is this the time of worshipping leaders or being enslaved to others; you are your own highest authority. Studying channels and written materials is a "highway" to knowledge; but once again, it must always be tested upon the crystal altars of your heart, spirit, and mind.

Our world is transforming and metamorphosing, but it doesn't have to be the magnificent apocalypse that you might expect. The world doesn't have to end on December 12th, 2012. Annihilation fears can be seen as the last gasping breaths of the old world order. We can work to change ourselves and the world around us for the better, with the constant goal of highering our spiritual development. This giant crisis of global warming, and other world crises is a great Teacher that comes at the right time to finally unite us all to have a huge "growth spurt" of Spirit. Focus is most productive and uplifted when it is placed on positive change, and growth of humans and the planet.

Us humans are changing, and the earth is changing. We are moving to a new time, and a great shift is occurring. As more and more people "wake up", the change accelerates faster and faster, and the likelihood of us moving to the highest level of spiritual development, as a planet and as a people, increases. Every moment counts, and every choice leads us either to a higher vibration or a lower vibration. The green movement is helpful when it causes us to examine our actions and improve ourselves to a more caring vibration; it is helpful when we feel satisfied with the changes we are making. It is the changes within our souls that measure the success of the movement. One should not feel obligated to do anything or be "green"; this just causes resentment. Remove any guilt or "shoulds" from yourself. Act through love and soul's desire. None of us are perfect, but we will change perfectly as is intended, at the right pace for ourselves.

These rapid changes in our lives prove that now is a time of testing and purification, and of a higher vibration of energy. Constant change will become even more of a constant. An urge to cleanse our bodies and clear our clutter shows that we are readying ourselves for the next stage. Rapid changes in our spiritual development can temporarily lead to exhaustion, euphoria, up and down, sickness, psychosomatic disorders, and other cycles. At some of the next levels you may experience confusion, memory loss, anxiety, vivid dreams, seeming hallucinations, and depression at times. Don't worry, this is all a part of the process, and it is totally normal. As we "clear", cleanse, work through, process, heal, or otherwise move through areas of negativity to a place of greater love and purity, there is often times of dissonance and temporary discomfort. One way to describe this is to imagine taking off on an airplane, or on a spaceship; as you gather speed to take off, the plane shakes violently and loudly, and almost seems to fall apart; then a few short moments later, the smoke clears and it is a smooth glide from then on.

As we progress in our spiritual levels, some define it and see it as moving through higher and higher space/time dimensions. For example, our physical plane is known as the third dimension. Beyond that our dimensions that formerly have been defined as "just" being in our imagination or in our dreams. The "fourth dimension" is a highly visual realm of symbols and images; it can also be seen as our collective unconscious. It is the domain of our collective and individual emotions, archetypes, myths, and so on. That is where "ghosts" or earthbound spirits lie, since they are trapped in their own emotions and minds. In the fourth dimension, as you dream, daydream, and meditate, you can "meet and greet", love, and learn from all those beings. If you experience skepticism, why not try suspending your disbelief, or even disregarding it, and seeing what happends. Beyond that level are higher and many multiple dimensions of finer vibrations; some see them as infinite, and others feel more comfortable defining them as twelve levels.

No matter your religion, this "ascension" of spirit is open and accessible to everyone. Everyone can have a divine, instant connection with their angels, spirit guides, loved ones, etc. You don't need to have an intercessor, or to speak with psychics, but it IS helpful to be with other likeminded people. We need to start and keep reaching toward others. We have been working on bettering ourselves and working on our own spirituality. Now is the time to start connecting with others on a spiritual level.

This is the second most important message that I want to give you. It may feel awkward to talk with others about spirituality or your experiences, but this is just part of our negative experience of the past and our fear of rejection. Others may judge you, or they may not; but there will be moments when part of you both get through to each other. The human element might get in the way sometimes, and it won't be perfect, but speaking from your heart and soul will help to change the world. We've been scared either that we are not worthy or that people will think we are crazy or wrong, or that we will get into an argument with others, or that they won't understand. Let's have hope and manifest true power together. Bring issues to the light, remove the taboo about talking about spiritual things, and also remove the sense of being too precious about our own experiences.

Let's share and purify our "heart songs" via open discussion, and to raise consciousness as a group. It is very hard to realize, but no one has a monopoly on the truth or being "right"! We are all right and good at the same time. Create a society of pluralism, equality, participation, and democracy, starting from our own home groups. Help each other. Speak our truth. It can be hard and some things may feel ineffable. But you need only share what you wish and feel called to. Spread truth and love, and bring them into the light.

The key steps to the process of spiritual development are having love, faith, hope, and a positive outlook. Master your emotions, meditate and/or pray regularly in the fashion you find suitable, study about spiritual matters. Focus on healing our selves and improving ourselves- stop blaming others and strive to become psychologically, spiritually healthy. This can be a difficult path - to question and think for yourself no matter what others say; to also love yourself, pray, and have faith and integrity in the face of opposition. But to commit to God, and to the service of the "Light" is the most rewarding path you can take! Throughout this process we can get annoyed at our progress and that of others or the world; however, it is the journey towards excellence and "Godness" that matters, not the result. For many, this is really "the most important of your lifetimes on earth!" (attributed to Archangel Michael).

In this new paradigm-world, we are in control to the extent that we feel, and state, what our heart wants. That sends out the energy into reality and the world, to help the/your universe start rearranging itself to fit your vision. But, like I said earlier, the manner and timing in which it unfolds is holy; beautifully, not up to you. Don't judge the process, yourself or others. Be patient with your yearnings and mistakes - which are really the best lessons in disguise.

Turn your heart and mind around. It may feel weird, like dizziness, confusion, overwhelm, or you may even get headaches or stomach aches as you start to let go of a lot of old stuck habits, clutter, poisonous thoughts, etc. Tune out and get your rest when you need to, when you feel burdened. Ask your "away team" of helpers for comfort and advice, and speak your permission out loud for them to heal and approach you.. We all have spiritual guides and you can easily turn to them. go sit in meditation or rest quietly before sleep; ask for healing or ask for whatever the universe thinks is best for you. Let your mind be clear and relax; say a prayer of protection and then follow whatever you may see, hear,or feel. Heal yourself and your surroundings by envisioning a white, gold, rainbow or any color light cleansing around you. Read whatever spiritual literature reads to you.

Do whatever brings you joy. Do what you do with ease and grace (again, atributed to Archangel Michael).

In all that you read, hear, and see, and in your heart, soul, and mind listen to the pure, consistent, and supportive messages. They may be from a higher self, your higher brain or soul, angels, spirit guide, or somewhere else! What you focus on expands. Open to small miracles and the larger miracle of God and our existence every day. God is whatever you believe. Listen to callings and believe them for real.