One Blessing
May we surrender to the splendor of the dawn. May we see the wonder of red on rock and the majesty of a drop of dew on a pine needle. May we witness the lone eagle, soaring over the canyon walls, carrying our prayers from the darkness of the night into the opportunity of the morning light.May we build a bridge across all the boundaries of our intolerance. May we recognize our pride for the delusion that it truly is. May we always speak with candor, even when our honesty is met with suspicion and fear. May we open our minds with the expanse of a desert sky and acknowledge that we are one family.May we heed the call that comes as a wisp of wind in our hair or as thunder, crashing through our bones, urging us to wake up and reaffirm our commitment, to trust in the power of forgiveness, the one salve which can heal every wound and show us that the dream was never really so.May we welcome the fox that comes to our door and challenges us to be wiser and more deliberate in our response. May we no longer allow vague imaginings and thoughtless wanderings defile our name. May we respect and honor each human being with the reverence due a creation of our One Creator.May we willingly reach out our hearts and our hands in an embrace so wide that we encompass every living thing. May we sing a song of life so bright that our voices rise and resound across the Universe, proclaiming: "We know who we are, and we have one wish, that is peace on Earth."The offer, the gift, the one blessing is sweet, eternal and infinite Love...
The Path of the Peacemaker
How brave is the brother who defends our freedom with his life?
With an undying will, he defies our consciousness to evolve,
By throwing all our traditions of complacency into disorder,
So there may arise a remarkable vision to strengthen our resolve.
How blessed is the sister who serves humanity with her love?
She reminds us that we are spiritual beings on earthly soil;
Her patient hands heal the orphans, alone in their suffering,
While her compassionate heart lifts the slaves of poverty and toil.
So tonight, beneath the stars, breathe in the wind and rejoice
For tomorrow's dawn honors our resurgence with the colors of praise;
In the morning, we will begin the journey filled with optimism and
Branded with the belief that we are made from goodness' gaze.
Each footstep will be a pledge of principle, a pact of truthfulness;
To be candid, first with ourselves and always with each other,
Therein lies the key, for it means we can begin, here and now,
To rely upon the word and trust in the intentions of one another.
The pathway to peace may be uncomfortable, long and arduous;
During times of trouble, we may grow weary and lose our way,
But we are spun from the blood and bones of a sacred hope;
This is our lasting legacy, for we are the peacemakers of our day.
Love and Spirit
At dusk, the northern lights shimmer across the evening sky;
Waves of sun particles shower the earth to form this triumphant art,
And all, who listen through the silence, hear the seeds of our potential
Transform thought into matter, as only pure wisdom can impart,
And oppose the pridefulness that limits our capacity to will change.
Now, it is our responsibility to verify the truth of our position.
What a magnificent choice we have at this moment in time!
Is it to be the journey of descent into intolerance and suspicion
Or the wonder of our mysterious and magical ability to bend
And make room for each individual to enhance the whole of mankind?
For the celebration of our diversity is the cornerstone of our civility,
And this vision, revealed as our highest intent, leaves no one behind.
The aurora borealis illuminates the horizon in many colors and tones;
As our connection to the Light, this is the voice of our greatest merit,
This preeminence that asks only that we learn to accept one another
And open our hearts to reflect the eternal flame of Love & Spirit.
The Prophets
With the reverence of their word and bound by the eternal pursuit of wisdom, the prophets of the ages have transformed the truth of our lives. The insight of their message resounds in unison. When we betray one another, we first deceive ourselves. And when our promises lack the culmination of our deeds, we lose sight of our sanctity, bequeathed to us by oracle, revealed in scripture and creed.The prophets forgive our transgressions, and while compassion imbues their hearts, their faith perceives our capacity to set things right. Likewise, their devotion reflects upon us like the lantern of the stars and shimmers ever so brightly in hope that we may see ourselves and recognize that the illusions, we tell, affect not only us, but everyone. For with our language, we recreate the mindset of the realm.Marked at birth as homeless wanderers, these sages have breathed life into us. Now, they wish only to inspire us, for they are the silent guardians who watch over our sleep. And in our darkest hours, they touch their hand to our brow so that we may glimpse the verity of our birth.Noble prophets, witnesses to our suffering, burdened long enough, lay their humble foreheads to the ground, weep and concede the password is simply love.Beyond Heart and Mind
The Heart is happy and at peace.The mind laments, "How can you be so cheerful while I am so miserable? Look at the world. There is conflict and poverty everywhere I turn."The Heart replies, "Yes, I see that you are seeking perfection, but every search is a circle drawing you deeper into your own heart.""Then why does it hurt so much to be a witness to all of this suffering?" worries the mind."The sun is shining, and it is a beautiful day." Now, the Heart is unfolding itself in an open invitation. "See what you are missing.""I do want peace, but something is always going wrong," complains the mind."The peace that you are seeking cannot be attained. It simply exists as your true nature... your very essence."Still, the mind moans on and on. All the while, the Heart responds with kindness and compassion... wisdom, patience and grace until the mind can think of nothing else to grumble about.At last, the mind stops... and there is silence...All that remains is the sound of the sun, shining.
An Open Letter to My Beloved Spiritual Family ~
As many of you are well aware, the earth is currently experiencing a major planetary shift both environmentally as well as spiritually. Change is a natural and essential purification process - one that is healthy and vibrant, bringing new life and energy to all of us. And while this particular cycle has the potential to transform our consciousness to a higher vibratory frequency, change often causes unhappiness when met with fear, resistance and/or a lack of trust.Emotional turmoil on our planet is not a given as we have been conditioned to believe. It is triggered by our incessant need to judge one another despite the fact we do not have the ability to envision the entire picture. The 'idea' is that if we can solve one piece of the puzzle, we will ultimately understand our entire world. This limited and fragmented perspective has perpetuated suffering around the globe throughout human history.The time has come to part with this ineffective mindset and to simply agree that we truly do not know. While this stance is never easy, it is quite helpful in reaching a peaceful resolution to both internal and external conflict. The challenge is to call a truce as we end the war going on in our own minds. The opportunity is to wipe the slate clean as we learn to embrace the changes that are occurring within the multi-faceted circles of our friendship and family relationships.The gift is to recognize the wealth of experience that we offer one another. The invitation is to grow and evolve spiritually as we soften what is rigid in our own hearts. The possibility is to emanate a loving kindness that is naturally filled with wisdom, tolerance, forgiveness and compassion. How blessed we are to live in this time of planetary transformation! May we all become a beacon of hope, sustenance and inspiration to all of our spiritual brothers and sisters.Devotion
Standing before the spirit of the rock, the carver takes his place. The master caretaker of his craft, he selects a line to trace. To shape a block of marble, crystalline, cream and gray, his solid chisel charts the contoured lines with grace. Any slip or mishap might cause the rock to break. So, he travels well beyond the worn path he planned and enters deep within his soul where he calls forth, "Courage." Now, an extraordinary vision flows forth and rushes through his humble hands.The precious stone itself compels the carver offer all to this molten limestone, tumbled and cooled, by the rivers of time. His hammer beats in a steady pulse; his gaze remains ever calm for the silent mystery is waiting, devoid of reason, end or rhyme. The ebb and flow of sunlight pours through an open door, and as he chisels, tiny chips of stone begin to vanish from view. His self-expression is his sole intention, nothing more… and if that lacks perfection, it is your sight that is askew.His tools move like a journey into a cloud-like, rosy mist, descending on the room like a sweet kiss from afar. In truth, the carver knows that the earth angels are all around him. They are the assistants in this manifestation of magic, awakening through art. Too soon, the brilliant hues of sunset blaze a wonder he observes until the stars beguile the long shadows of the eve. Still later, the moon sparkles along finely, polished curves until it all rests on the horizon and shifts the final light to leave.At last, the new morning trades one bright day for another. The carver stands and stretches his body, cold and tired. Now, he waits for you to behold his creation, this holy, blessed mother. Her head nods, as her palms rise, to welcome the inspired. She evokes an ancient memory of a heaven, eternally aglow. The purity of her essence implies the longest sigh… and for your absolute devotion, a revelation is bestowed. In her all-embracing heart abides the most glorious love on high.
The Genesis of Love
Beyond the beginning, before there was life,
The sword of awareness, whose will was done,
Pierced the emptiness of the deep, violet night,
And a star, made from the memory that all is one,
Yielded from black to white and dark to light;
This luminous beam, bound to a moment in time,
Illuminated our planet with a luster so bright
And seeded an essence, divined by ancient signs.
At once, four winds swept across the tourmaline seas,
Carried the ripened pod and secreted it to shore
Where it lay buried in the sands of passion's mystery
Until a golden, amber glow poured from its core,
And two hearts, opened by a wellspring of emotion,
Conflicted by idealism believed and realism received,
Were shaped to reveal beauty, made with devotion,
In a union, the angels both blessed and conceived.
For he was the fire to the efflorescence of her desire
While she, invested with the breath of pure harmony,
Knew that they must sustain the wheel and ever aspire
To a recollection of their provenance with destiny
Through the genesis of love; to a re-creation
Of the birth of spirit in a child with cosmic wings;
To the restoration of hope for a lost generation,
Whose wisdom is the freedom to follow their dreams.
You might also be interested in:
A Collection of Spiritual Haiku for Meditation and Contemplation
(an account of my very personal spiritual journey)
Or for more information, please contact:
Cathy Ginter
Safe Harbor Center for Spiritual Healing
448 Fisher Road
Cabot, PA 16023-2110 USA
(30 miles north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
(724) 352-4692
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Truth beckons each child
Beyond all pathways, merging
His sight with God’s Light.
Chanting OM
"Whosoever knows OM, the Self, becomes the Self."
-The Mandukya Upanishads
Dearest Sangha ~
As a musician and sound healer, I have experienced firsthand the healing power of sound. Vibration has the capacity to open our chakras (energy centers) and raise our consciousness to a higher state of being. The sacred syllable OM is universal, indivisible, infinite, eternal and ever mysterious.Chanting OM is a wonderful enlightenment practice. As prana (the breath) enters the body vessel; it carries the entire universe into our heart center. Exhaling and chanting OM stirs the dreamer from the sleep state to the awakened state. As you continue to chant OM, imagine a vibration flowing simultaneously inward and outward in continuous waves of energy, pulsating in every direction, speaking to each and every heart, and uniting our consciousness like a small stream meeting the ocean. This is sacred breathing.Two other simple, yet lovely chants are: OM, shanti shanti shanti and Hari OM. In Sanskrit, shanti means peace and tranquility. Actualized in this moment, there is only this blessed stillness, aligning body, mind and spirit. Hari is the Supreme; thus, we meet our Beloved, the supreme soul in union with God Supreme. In recognition, we surrender to our true nature in oneness with all.There is also great benefit from silently chanting Om. Thus in stillness or in chaos, OM is forever with us.Surrender to Serenity
"You are pure. Nothing touches you. What is there to renounce? Let it all go, the body and the mind.
Let yourself dissolve." -The Heart of Awareness
All resistance is fragmenting by its very nature. We separate ourselves from what is happening in a futile attempt to stop it from happening. Our egoic conditioning convinces us that the effort to control our world is productive behavior when in actually, the pursuant argument that cycles around and around in our minds is exactly what prevents us from living life to the fullest. It would be funny, like watching an old Laurel and Harvey film, if the consequences weren't so dire.Once we surrender our resistance and fully embrace this moment, the point of awareness shifts away from the perception that something is happening to us. And in a flash of Grace, we suddenly become aware that we are here to honor the form our life is experiencing. This body, this time, this event becomes a unifying field of consciousness, in which we realize our Oneness with everything that is taking place.So, no matter what arises, we can stop, take a deep breath and remind ourselves that the invitation is to be in complete alignment with the serenity that is always right here... fully knowing that we are that serenity.When All Reflections Fall Away
"The truth is that you are always united with the Lord. But you must know this. Nothing further is there to know." -The Svetasvatara Upanishads
What happens once we stop seeking lasting peace and happiness?When we finally own up to the futility of the search, we begin to acknowledge that hope in a future Self-realization is actually the postponement of recognizing what is already right here. Consequently, everything we do in avoidance of the present moment is a distraction, entwining us further in the dream state.However real this illusion, this betrayal or this suffering seems to be; ultimately, we will shake ourselves awake. Rising from the depths of this wild and raging stream of inner turmoil, we forget everything we were ever told about ourselves and begin to remember the truth of who we really are.Once all the doors and windows blow wide open, divine light pours right through.In this moment of awakening, we discover a love that is precious and beautiful to behold. No longer a mere belief, an egoic grasping for pleasure or a moral dilemma that we have to ponder over, love simply is. And when all reflections fall away, we know this love as the perfect expression of divine Grace.Instantly, we begin seeing this same light in the faces of each of our brothers and sisters. And effortlessly, we become part of the natural flow of love, extending outward, without limit, into the hearts of all of humanity.Breath of Awakening
"As threads come out of the spider, as little sparks come out of the fire, so all the senses, all the worlds, all the gods, yea, all beings, issue forth from the Self. His secret name is Truth of the Truth." -Upanishads
Awakening can be tricky business. "How?" is a frequent question I hear, as though we can "How?" our way to enlightenment. This common delay tactic is used by the ego to preserve its very survival.Certainly, we can play the part of the spiritual seeker, but as long as we spend this moment trying to 'get' liberated, we are only satisfying the ego's love of the search. Be aware that the ego swings back and forth from suspiciousness to viciousness - that is its range. Moreover, the ego thrives on suffering... like running in place and getting nowhere fast.Once we stop asking "How?" right here and now, and breathe the breath of awakening, we discover that this moment is richly sacred in and of itself. From the spaciousness of infinite silence, the formless Self arises. This is the secret revealed... the Truth of the Truth.Renaissance
Of all the planets in all the galaxies of our Universe, the holy child chose Earth, giver of grain, weaver of wind and water, spinner of dust and sand, whose volcanic ash cooled, then carried by rivers of rain, birthed forests of conifers, moss, ferns and wildflowers across the burgeoning land.Hope watched in wonder as each strand of time, turned in the boundlessness of space and spiraled to become tamed by love's strong, but gentle force. A breath was taken that would recast the vision of humanity for eternity; a path, blazed from the wellspring of creation, carved a majestic course.But we, explorers of mind, who quest fulfillment in materialism and greed, have, by our desires, been deceived and left abandoned by our temptations; as have our injustices, once exposed by dayspring, betrayed our origins. Wavering on the precipice, ae fall to our knees and pray for redemption.Once we own our choices and seize honor by seeking meaning in each moment, we come like travelers from afar, bearing gifts of painting, song and poem. uniting the will of the world, we raise high the voice of our compassion, awakening a renaissance of inner peace that sweeps the reach of our globe.The Priceless Gift of Humor
"Free yourself from sorrow, and be happy.
Be happy! For you are joy, unbounded joy."
-The Heart of Awareness
All defense is attack. Defense and attack is followed by more defense and attack, and so the battle continues. It's a vicious cycle, and simply put, it doesn't work.The solution must reside in our defenselessness. When suddenly, we realize that it is nothing personal, we allow ourselves to be completely vulnerable. Hidden in this truth is the recognition that we cannot be hurt. In many ways, living is like learning how to swim. To be light enough to float, we must trust the waters enough that we can lay back and relax, look right up at the sun and breathe easy. When we completely let go, we become one with the movement of the waves, the sparkling of the sun on the water as well as the joy of simply breathing.On a personal note, I have come to appreciate the fact that too often than not, we take ourselves way too seriously. Yes, being a human can be crazy, and sometimes it might not be fun, but it is always funny. Just remember that laughter opens a space around every problem - this is the priceless gift of humor. And at some point, we simply get the joke, know the punch line and so, let it be as though it never happened... AHA!Kundalini and 2012
"As the web comes out of the spider and is withdrawn, as plants grow from the soil and hair from the body of man, so springs the universe from the eternal Brahman." -The Upanishads
The ancient Mayans have been predicting the "end" of the world for thousands of years. As I write this posting, there is no question that we are experiencing a quantum shift in consciousness on our planet. Each moment, more and more people awaken to the truth that materialistic pursuits have not served the highest intent of our humanity. In fact, the generations currently populating our planet have a real opportunity to affect a new way of being in the world. Ancient wisdom traditions from around the world speak of a sleeping serpent, the latent divinity from which wings will grow. Known as Kundalini, this powerful spiraling energy stirs from a coil at the base of the spine and rises to the crown chakra. While Shiva is the Absolute, Shakti is the manifestation of the whole universe. As Shiva energy descends from the sky, it activates Shakti energy arising from the earth plane. The inevitable re-union of Shakti and Shiva annihilates the ego and ends the illusion of our separateness. The enlightenment that follows is a return to our original state of Oneness, most often experienced as serenity or bliss. In the Upanishads, we find the metaphor of the female spider and her web. The spider weaves her thread out of herself and then lives upon it. She is simultaneously the contained and the container.On a much larger scale, December 21, 2012 is the time when our sun will come into alignment with the center of galaxy. This rare celestial event occurs only once every 26,000 years. Like Kundalini energy, this crossing of the ecliptic with the galactic plane has the potential to be the end of duality and the dawn of the promised Golden Age.As the 2012 climax approaches, we can expect to experience larger-than-life swinging from intense emotional suffering to moments of unimaginable ecstasy. It is important to remember to breathe more slowly and fully in the coming years. I also recommend that we drink a lot of water as the rising Kundalini energy burns away old patterns of conditioning in our auric fields as well as generations of karma from our planet.At the same time, it is vital that we see this coming cycle as a cleansing period so that we meet it with courage as opposed to fear. If we accept and honor the shifting energy flow with calm and clarity, the entire planet is purified and like a snake shedding its skin, the transformation will open our hearts to a cycle of greater love, kindness, tolerance and compassion.Still Shining
"I am one and in everything. I am unbounded and beyond space. How can I see my own Self appearing or disappearing." -Avadhuta Gita
I have been exploring all the subtle ways in which we become entangled in the web of spiritual narcissism. It is as though we learn all the right things to say and therefore think we possess something of intrinsic and permanent value.I am also aware of how easy it is to fall into the trap of the spiritual seeker, using abstract words to debate other seekers, stacking up an endless array of metaphysical experiences, attending yet another meditation retreat, reading esoteric books and packaging it all into a spiritual path that essentially leads us right back to square one.All methods are a temporary fix at best, seemingly relieving suffering when all the while; the ego is hiding just a little deeper where it is even more difficult to catch in its new disguise.It is helpful to remember that any attempt to produce a state of enlightenment is bound to miss the mark. This reminder is a humbling but powerful revelation that can bring us down to our knees. Yet if by chance, we look up in time to see the clouds part, we discover that the sun is right where it has always been... and yes, it is still shining... Basking in such luminous glory, we can't help but laugh and wonder why we ever felt a need to look for it in the first place.A Singular Truth
"Who cares to seek for that perfect freedom? One man, perhaps, in many thousands." -The Bhagavad Gita
A few mornings ago, we finished planting our garden. We tilled the earth and prepared it with minerals and lots of organic matter in order to make the seed bed rich and loamy. Still, the work of planting seeds is an act of faith. And regardless of the precautions we might take, birds, deer, rabbits, insects and the weather are among the countless variables that challenge the gardener's world. Like life, there are no guarantees that the outcome will meet the promise of our expectation.Nevertheless, we have planted a very large garden every year for the past thirty-two years, and each step remains a labor of love. Simply placing the seed beneath the earth and watching for the leaves to rise from the soil's depth is a wonder in itself as it whispers one note in a long song of the abundant harvest yet to come.Quite similar to seed, sprouting from the earth, all perception stirs from within. Likewise, the understanding that our soul purpose is to bring forth life entreats us to ask: Are we able to witness light in apparent darkness? Might we serve an offering of compassion in place of indifference? And can we move beyond our beliefs about scarcity and suffering to acknowledge abundance where no such thing is visible to the human eye?At every moment, a higher intelligence calls us forward, reminding us that we are the true promise of the world. Our quintessence is our willingness to shine our inner light more brightly, to dig ever deeper into our heart centers and to discover a love that extends itself infinitely outward. At long last, our spiritual growth is the realization of a singular truth: We are one Self united with our Creator.Love is Our Soul Reality
"Fear not what is not real, never was and never will be. What is real, always was and cannot be destroyed."
-The Bhagavad Gita
As we mature spiritually, we begin to transform the manner in which we see and experience fear.In the sleep or unconscious stages, the tendency is to resist our fear. Most of us swing back and forth between projecting fear outward as anger or blame and internalizing fear as worry or guilt.In the awaking stages, we begin to open our eyes and become a witness to fear, eventually learning to embrace our fear until we can see through it completely.You might ask, "How is this possible when fear seems so scary?"Consider a small child, experiencing a nightmare. Most likely, you go into her room to comfort her and turn on the light. Instantly, the shadows of the dark are dispelled. The mystics of the ages are all showing us the same thing. Their wisdom is reminding us that the nightmare of our suffering vanishes in the grace of God's love and light.And yes... certainly, God is fully aware of each and every one of us. In truth, we are the Sonship of God, one interconnected whole Self. As such, Love is our soul reality.Marriage
"It is not for the sake of the husband, my beloved, that the husband is dear, but for the sake of the Self. It is not for the sake of the wife, my beloved, that the wife is dear, but for the sake of the Self." -The Upanishads
What I've learned from over 30 years of marriage to the same man...The biggest trap is making an assumption + creating an expectation based on that assumption = conflict every time. Communication is key. By communicating, I am refering primarily to our ability to listen. In opening up this space of silence, an authentic connection might happen - though there are never guarantees. I've seemingly "done" everything right and still caused an uproar. Finally, no-thing is absolutely important... and in the end, there is no practice making perfect... only the realization that we are at Love's whim...Journey into Silence
Oh the music of silence! I love the eternal quiet of the sun, shining on the fields in the afternoon here at Safe Harbor. The rays of light move like a hand, waving ever so softly over the earth. Like a healer, it rests its warmth along my brow.
Then a cloud rolls by, and I feel coolness... then warmth once again. This wondrous light continues its play. Now like dancing notes, it moves through the tree tops and rushes in the leaves. I hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, calling me Home. It breathes my name, and in that moment, I know that I am not alone for I feel the comforting presence of God's unconditional love and acceptance.
This journey into silence is the perfect reflection of the simplicity of my Being. I need nothing... I want nothing... I know nothing... All that I AM is the quiet of this light, playing in gentle, soulful awareness of All that there is and All that there ever could be. Truly, "I am one Self, united with my Creator." (ACIM W - 166)
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