Spiritual Equilibrium (A State of Grace)

In my last entry I talked about the importance of remaining vigilant in ones daily quest for spiritual balance and enlightenment; that Heaven must be re-won everyday. As we move directly into the celebration of the birth of the Christ child, it is worth noting that this wonderful being, this Christ consciousness known as Jesus (Yeshua) who was incarnated so long ago to bring light and love to the world and its people, is a symbol (template) for how we all should approach our lives. Now I’m not talking about overcoming original sin or anything of that nature; this is not a doctrine that I espouse or accept as my reality, as my truth. We all have choices and those choices have consequences, good or bad, right or wrong; it’s the karmic nature of things. What I’m referring to here is that beautiful and celestial state of grace; that balanced state of divine consciousness that this child of God represented then and for many still represents now. What I’m talking about is maintaining that all-important spiritual equilibrium so vital now as we move forward in our day-to-day activities and lives.

Remaining in a balanced state of being in the midst of constant challenge, struggle and turmoil is an attribute that takes daily practice and focus, but will inevitably delineate the weak from the strong, the wheat from the chaff, the awakened from the sleeper, as we move forward on this tumultuous and dichotomous cycle of ascension. Just like the opening lines of a jazz piece by saxophone great Wilton Felder states, "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, you can inherit the wind", this sentiment speaks to the heart of the matter and is more true now than ever before. The wind, in this case, is that sometimes fleeting state of grace that we need to possess and maintain when confronted with dysfunctional circumstances and the people who are caught up in the limited illusion of a growing survival consciousness facing our times now.

Circumstances have made those who have lived most of their lives in comfort, now confront the harsh insecurities of financial and socio-economic downturn. People are scared right now like never before. The one upside to this potentially overwhelming dynamic is that many more individuals are being forced into the renewal of their faith, whatever their belief system may be, because for so many there is nowhere else to turn. With this reality of emotional and spiritual vulnerability, it is incumbent upon all of those who have awakened and are becoming more and more aware of their connection to Godsource and the illusion we are living in, to serve as beacons of light for those who are not yet as tapped in. Everyone has the potential for awakening, but until we go within and find our truth, the love that is within all of us through Godsource, the "net" of fear will remain. It is time for us to be the light.

On this most important celebration of the birth of the Christ child, may we all who are awakening and understanding our true identities as divine sparks of the eternal, serve as those beacons of light for so many who are looking for a way to spiritually help themselves. It’s not about finding any wise words of wisdom to say, though they are important, it’s about living your life in a state of grace and serving as a living and breathing example for others who want to be better and do better, but aren’t sure how. It’s about being that beacon of light, that wave of divine consciousness that permeates the room whenever you walk in; it’s not you, but the light and resonant vibration from Godsource that flows through you. From this day forward may you all be the enlightened, loving sparks of divine grace, a true testament to God’s loving energy and essence. Within this spiritual equilibrium will come an amazing gift for all who come in your path; a gift of love energy and an opportunity to find the love within themselves. As a beacon, the gift you receive in return comes back 1000-fold. You don’t have to say a word, just be. Here’s wishing all of you a wondrous and wonderful celebration, and a heartfelt wish for happiness and prosperity in the New Year. May you create your reality in the way that is most perfect for you.

With love, Namaste.

The Default Position

I have a humble confession to make. These last few weeks and months have been a bit of a struggle. Certainly my issues are no different than the billions of Souls on this earth today dealing as best they can with the pervasive stresses that society has imposed. From economic uncertainty, joblessness, home foreclosures and depreciations, to rising healthcare costs, disease, the threat of terrorism, political divisiveness and cultural polarization throughout the world; you name it, people are going through quite a lot right now, more than seems fair or even normal. So my own personal difficulties and challenges are simply dealt with in quiet solitude and spiritual introspective fortitude because frankly, they are no different than anyone else’s. It’s rough out there for almost everyone.

That said, there seems to be a kind of ubiquitous internal, emotional and spiritual struggle going on where people are fighting to remain afloat amidst the morass of negativity and social volatility within our mass consciousness today. With this seemingly ongoing negative frequency pulse, even during our current ascension cycle, comes a conscious need for Souls to actively try and maintain a positive, or at least neutral attitude and state of being. There is a saying that I have used time and time again in my writings that states “Heaven must be re-won everyday” (source unknown). What this fundamentally means is that because of a kind of “net” of negative consciousness that seems to have surrounded our world and in some cases our internal state of being, we must consciously, and constantly make a concerted effort towards maintaining a positive spiritual attitude and perspective, even when the world around us seems to be spiraling.

To forfeit your daily maintenance routine for spiritual balance means to fall into a default position; a position of engulfing negativity, depression, anger, and most importantly fear. This is what can and most often does happen when we fail to do our due diligence and keep ourselves emotionally and spiritually above the fray. The rules have not changed. We are still responsible for our own actions and manifestations within our own respective universes. Our personal universe is still directly determined by our state of consciousness; the playing field, however, seems to be stacked a little more against us, so rather than “Just Being” in a state of effortless bliss surrounded by a bubble of loving energy, we have to constantly maintain a conscious effort to keep a protective shield of spiritual energy around us; we are constantly having to tread water (so to speak) so that we don’t succumb to the external stresses and internal bombardment of negative energy. For some, this can be hard work, and if not made a part of our daily routine and ritual, we can sometimes fall prey to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

This world that we as human beings have been occupying for millennia has been wrought with coercive manipulation and malevolent intent by many who occupy it, and perhaps in some cases oversee it. History has shown that maintaining the light and love of Source in our hearts has often been a constant struggle, and that keeping this high vibration while living in this dense consciousness of physical energy requires true dedication and vigilance. It’s not easy to stay above the turbulence, but it’s not impossible either.

The deck may be stacked and the playing field may be far from level, but so what. This is the hand we have all been dealt and it is up to all of us to continue the good fight. By good fight, I mean the maintaining of high spiritual ideals and the inner connectedness of God’s love and light permeating our being, even in the midst of outward decay. What it means is first awakening to our true identity as a being of higher consciousness, as one with All That Is. But it also means doing the necessary work, the daily, hourly, moment-by-moment work that is so necessary to maintain our keen awareness and understanding that what we are living in is a holographic illusion of energy. What it means is constantly reminding ourselves that even in the midst of this illusion that we are not our bodies or our circumstances, that our gender, race, ethnicity or cultural heritage are not who we truly are, but are only the external trappings and wrappings we cling to so as to have identity and purpose in this physical realm. The truth is we are more than this, we are divine sparks of Eternal Source. We are God individuated and self-aware.

Yes, heaven must be re-won everyday, and especially now as we are bombarded by the dysfunctional dramas and stresses perpetrated on our mass consciousness in this crazy world. Even when those around us are completely lost in and oblivious to the illusion, and fixated on the world stage play, the awakened one sees the dramas unfolding for what they truly are. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God…" keep your focus on your true identity as a divine, connected spark of Source energy, endowed with the same spiritual rights and abilities as Source itself. You can turn your circumstances around by changing your state of consciousness, regardless of outer conditions and challenges. But you must do and maintain the daily work necessary to get and keep your spiritual vibration strong enough so that pull-through is possible and assured. I write this as much to remind myself of this as I do in sharing with all of you. It’s an easy thing to forget, getting trapped in the illusion; the Maya of life’s drama, but we MUST remain vigilant if we are to find our way back home again. Where we are, here and now, is merely a testing ground, a kind of spiritual boot camp.

On this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I wish you well and hope you all give thanks to one another and take a moment to reconnect with Divine Source, with the hierarchical reality of your higher self. There is an internal spiritual family that is with you at all times, just waiting for the opportunity to help you stay above the fray, but you have to ask for the help. Don’t be afraid to ask, and certainly don’t feel that you are unworthy, for this is an illusory trap of the worst kind. As we give thanks this holiday season for family, friends and life itself, please take a moment of personal introspection to pray and reconnect with that which gives you life, knowing that you are it and it is you. This is what awakening is all about. Stay connected, do the daily work, don’t give in to the fear, and live within the love. Love is what you truly are.

Namaste

Darrell

Everything is Consciousness

I’ve been on hiatus for a bit, not so much to relax as to introspectively contemplate, immersing myself into the wisdom of the cosmos. One must remember that in spiritual growth there is always a plus element to enlightenment; that is, there is always more to learn and as we exist in eternity we will never stop learning, never stop growing. With that, my focus of late has been very much on the ubiquitous nature of consciousness.

Again I’m reminded of the movie The Matrix, where Neo finally awakened and was able to see the illusion for what it actually was, in his case a series of 1’s and 0’s moving along the spatial grid of his enlightened vision, creating form and substance within the illusion itself. What I have increasingly come to realize is that this stark representation may actually be truer than one might suspect.

Quantum and theoretical physics has shown that everything is energy. As such, when we break down this energy quotient even further we come to understand that energy is in fact frequency, existing at variable vibratory rates that we may either perceive or not perceive. Our lack of perception does not in any way negate its existence. Well, one of the things that I have come to understand more and more is that consciousness is a frequency. We could postulate that consciousness = frequency, e.g. frequency = consciousness. This frequency of existence is a part of the oneness of All That Is. All That Is is all there is (there is nothing outside of IT), so everything that exists does so within the realm, parameters and dimensional connectivity of Source energy itself. As such, this energy, frequency, or whatever you may wish to call it, by its very nature is consciousness, because it is all a part of the ONE. We may even take it a step further to say that this energy, frequency, or whatever you wish to call it, by virtue of its connectedness to Source is in truth intelligent consciousness.

Take for instance the long held understanding in spiritual and esoteric circles of the law of attraction. Our thoughts are things; energy conduits of specific intent and vibratory intensity sent forward for the sole purpose of attracting like energy to be used in the manifestation of our intention. Some of us may not know the technical or mechanical nature of how it works, but we do know, or are coming to realize more and more that focused intention combined with right attitude and effort create our personal universe. Ignorance of the law of attraction is no excuse, and until we become the conscious conduits of our actions, we will remain the “victims” of our creations as opposed to the captains of our destiny; for what we think becomes who we are and the circumstances that make up our lives and our universe. This energy moving forth on our behalf (whether you are aware or not) is an intelligent energy, like the Genie in the lamp who states, “Your wish is my command.” It is not a dumb force, but an intelligent, neutral consciousness moving in a seamless, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent flow connecting you and I, and everything else. It connects the dots in ways that we could never (ever) conceive of on our own, and brings about manifestation in a type of synchronicity that is unrivalled in existence, because it is existence.

If most of us possessed the gift of auric sight (we all have this potential) we would begin to see the seamless interconnectedness of this energy, much like the 1’s and 0’s that Neo began to see in his enlightened vision. We would begin to realize the holographic illusory nature of our existence and awaken to our Angelic heritage; our God given abilities to create whatever we may desire in our lives. We’ve just forgotten, or perhaps have been made to forget (depending on what you believe or have come to understand). But once awakened, we have a choice. Do we choose conscious cause, or unwilling effect? The choice is yours, but at the point of awakening you can no longer site ignorance as an excuse. From this point forward it’s on you, and no one else. You are forever changed.

Yes everything is consciousness, and consciousness has the capacity to expand, but we must do the daily work in order for this expansion to occur. With this expansion comes a greater understanding and remembering of the true nature of our existence. We begin to remember our origins; we begin to consciously come online to our personal spiritual life contracts (why we were brought here), and we begin to make the conscious decision of whether or not we are to become a part of the spiritual solution, or part of the coercive, manipulative problem that now exists and has long existed in our multiverse.

Always remember that love is at the core of this true awakening and continued enlightenment. It is the door that opens the way back to Source. But free will is always at play, and whatever direction we choose will be respected, with the understanding that we must ultimately reap what we sow.

So as we swim upstream in this unlimited pool of conscious energy, it is up to us to do the work necessary to raise our vibration level and rate, so as to expand in awareness and begin to see the wonders that the multiverse has waiting for us to rediscover. This is why it is called awakening, because you’ve always known but have simply been made to forget. By whom? -- Well that’s another discussion for another time. One thing is clear, more and more Souls are waking up to their true origins, and the gaps between religion, science, spirituality and ascension are narrowing.

In many ways ascension is the science of multi-dimensional physics, a physics that for many is theoretical in nature because of the limited framework that orthodox science has historically provided for us to measure reality and/or illusion. You see, science and spirituality were never meant to be separate. But that gap is closing more and more. The journey is here and now, and the choice is yours to take. We will be peeling back the onion in future writings, and I so look forward to your many perspectives and ongoing dialogue. We’re all in this together, and together (through our focused energy and conscious intent) we will help each other find the way home. Just don’t forget, as you awaken and gain enlightenment, please pay it forward, for we are one.

Namaste

Tap Into Your Higher Self

Angels, archangels, saints, guides, ascended masters, these many wondrous entities and archetypes have captivated our collective imagination and consciousness for eons, creating strong fascinations with spirituality, belief in miracles, and a magnified inner longing for connection with Source. They have served as the personifications of religious and spiritual perfection, and templates for our own personal development and growth (What would _____ do?). Many of these ideals have also served as conduits for a petition with God, and in many respects, have become intercessors for a hopeful direct connection with All That Is. While it can indeed be wonderful and inspiring to use these many powerful inner matrices as a means of gaining enlightenment and providing a source of focus for the attainment of God’s gifts and miracles, it is important that we place these cosmically conscious spiritual energies into a larger context of spiritual enlightenment; that of providing temporary succor while we grow and develop our own personal means of ultimate spiritual unfoldment.

What all too often tends to get lost or overlooked while tapping into the energies of spiritual intermediaries is that the greatest ally each of us possesses is already within us. What is missed in all of this is that our greatest source of strength, unlimited insight and knowledge, and the key to ascension itself all comes from our own higher self. We are our own true path to God. It is wonderful to connect with Angels and the like, and yes they do exist (I’ve had my own experiences), but one should be focusing their primary attention on channeling their higher self, their direct connection to Source itself. You need nothing else but you, for you are a spark of the Divine itself.

Just to provide a brief snapshot into the inner cosmology of your true essence:

1. You possess a physical body, but you are not that body. The spark of awareness that drives this biological unit in 3D, and is the eternal center of awareness that is you is known as Soul,
2. You are Soul, capable of controlling this biological machine and process information in the 3D spectrum through our bio-computer known as the brain, but we also have the capacity to leave our physical body and travel into the inner worlds of creation. This is most often done in the dream state but can also be done through meditation and projection,
3. Our inner Soul awareness is only one aspect of a collective consciousness that is us, containing a myriad of experience through incarnation after incarnation, all taking place simultaneously within the illusion of time. There is in fact a higher aspect to this consciousness collective, which is called an Oversoul. This is a key provider of spiritual insight and enlightenment, and is tapped directly into the universal consciousness of Source allowing us cosmic consciousness and the ability to tap into any aspect of understanding we may wish; we only need to learn how to connect into this energy on a conscious, regular basis.

There are even greater aspects of personal awareness beyond this point, ultimately leading to Source itself, but we’ll stop here for now (this is enough to absorb and process for one entry). What is most important to take away here is that all you need in order to gain universal (and multiversal) enlightenment is all within you now. You need only accept that it is here and begin to learn how to consciously tap into this unlimited pool of awareness, for it is you. This is ultimately the goal. While guides, angels and ascended masters can be wonderful, they are only stepping stones, a means to a greater end, not an end in itself. After all is said and done, you are your only true path to Source, for the goal is to awaken to your true self, your incredible multi-layered, multi-dimensional essence. This is where we are all headed. You truly have your own back. You need not worry whom to trust when it is of you. Your collective consciousness, which eventually takes on a WE focused perspective, ultimately has everything you need.

During this amazing time of ascension, it is very important that this point be brought into the lexicon of mass spiritual dialogue. My reason for being so adamant about this is a simple yet significant one. As we all collectively come online in our own respective spiritual awakenings, we will be enticed to open ourselves up for channeling other energies that are not our own. Yes, it is true that we are ultimately all connected as sparks of divine awareness to the ONE, but some energies are more connected than others, with intentions that are sometimes less noble than others. You should love God and all that IT has created, but you should also keep your shields up. Do not become seduced and/or intoxicated by the swan songs of enlightenment from sources that claim ascension, but do so by inviting you to channel their energies, for many of these energies can be deceptive and may lull you into a false sense of well-being, ultimately pulling you into a bait-and-switch scenario of dark intent. Any true ascended master, angel and/or multi-dimensional entity that is Service to Others and of the light would be encouraging you to tap into your higher self, not channel something or someone else. So be careful.

Ultimately, you are your own path to God. Ultimately, you are all that you need to get back home to Source. This is by design. All of the spiritual giants from Jesus to Buddha and Mohammed, whom have become the sources of today’s many world religions, all came to this ultimate personal divine understanding within themselves. They became their own way and their own light back home. We should use them as inspirations and examples, but we should ultimately awaken to our own higher essence. This is what Source always intended, for we are Source itself; we just forgot.

In future discussions, we will delve further into how to enhance this personal connection with your higher self, but for now it’s good to just contemplate that you do have a higher self (selves), and on the other key message contained in this writing. Love All That Is, but keep your shields up. No one can make you do anything without your consent. Namaste.

Homage to Mother Earth

On this auspicious day known as Earth Day, I wanted to take a moment to pay sincere love and gratitude for this wonderful planet we all live on. Earth is indeed a living thing and our continued existence here is not a guarantee, unless we all do our part to make this world a better, healthier, and happier place. This includes being mindful and respectful of the many resources contained within the earth and exercising an eco-conscious mindset. It also means maintaining a high degree of spiritual awareness and consciousness for we are all connected to this rotating ball of life, and our consciousness and energy have a direct impact on it. So please do your part and honor Mother Gaia.



To signify the importance of protecting our planet and its resources, I wanted to share this wonderful video presentation created by Jordan Chen. Make this day and everyday, Earth Day.

Earth Day (HQ)

Put Your Mask On First

I’m sure you’ve all heard the longstanding example that’s been articulated when trying to convey the importance of taking care of yourself first before you can take care of others. This analogy refers to the in-flight safety checklist performed by flight attendants prior to the take-off of a commercial airline. Included in the explanations of how to fasten your seatbelt and how in the event of landing in water the seat cushion can be used as a flotation device, is the explanation of how to use the emergency oxygen mask. It basically goes like this…“In the event of a sudden change in cabin pressure while the flight is in progress, an emergency oxygen mask will be deployed from the ceiling of all passenger seats. If you are traveling with special needs passengers or small children, please be sure to put your mask on first before assisting with the needs of others…” I’m paraphrasing here, but you get the gist of the instruction. You have to take care of your needs first (so as not to pass out due to lack of oxygen) before helping anyone else with their needs. This in-flight safety example has multiple meanings and has served many a motivational speaker in illustrating the proper progression of directed focus one should use in order to be most effective for themselves and others.

I use this well-worn analogy here because in my own personal life, I have come to realize that this poignant example has an even greater level of spiritual importance than even the obvious parallels would suggest. It speaks directly to a spiritual sequence of events that must take place before any measurable success can be attained in our personal quest for spiritual enlightenment and the manifestational creation of love and abundance in our lives. You see, it’s all about building a strong foundation; the cornerstone of which is self-love. Before any of that other (woo-woo) spiritual stuff can even begin to work, you must first start with a clean spiritual pallet of unconditional self-love. You must first learn to love yourself unconditionally before you can be a conscious co-worker and channel for Source.

As I said, this serves as the foundation…the cornerstone for everything else that you do spiritually in order to have the greatest impact. Think of it this way. You may be going through the proper motions of exercising the laws of attraction and abundance in your life, but if this manifestation is being performed in an internally toxic vessel of fear, worry, and a compromised self-esteem, what do you think will be the outcome; what do you think will out-picture? If these attempts at enlightenment and abundance are being performed in a womb of self-loathing or thinking yourself unworthy, then you are merely sabotaging any attempts at success you may be trying to attain. Another way of looking at this is when you are living from this lower vibrational state of consciousness, you are spiritually misaligned, and subsequently offline. Remember this simple truth, YOU ARE GOD; God is love, therefore you are love. There is no separation because you are Source itself. The feeling of separation is merely an illusion. Begin to express within yourself that you love yourself unconditionally, regardless of whatever you may have screwed up yesterday or an hour ago. Your love of self is not and should not at any time be based on any external reason or excuse (or internal for that matter).

It’s all about choice. You have a 50/50 choice to decide how you want to feel about yourself. You see, what is implicit in this argument but rarely articulated verbally is that by not exercising unconditional love, by default you are practicing a form of unconditional self-loathing. Can you imagine saying an affirmation like that out loud? “I hate myself unconditionally.” Well, you may not be saying this outwardly but this is certainly the energy that we all too often give ourselves while trying to go about our day-to-day existence. THIS MUST CEASE.

So now, let’s assert a new affirmation. Repeat after me, “I am God, …and God is me. I love myself unconditionally.” See, it even rhymes! Repeat this over and over again until you actually start to feel the love building up inside of you like a warm nurturing flame. It is Source love reconnecting and filling in the spaces. When you do this, you are aligning your consciousness with your higher self and with Source. This is the foundation, the strong and essential foundation (like building a sturdy home) that forms the basis for everything else we try to manifest in our lives using the spiritual principles. It’s all about the proper sequence. You have to fuel the inner tank with pristine love first before driving the wonderful spiritual vehicle that is you.

When you live from this center point, there is no fear in the equation. When you live from this consciousness, you become the glowing conduit of love that Source needs and requires in order to light up the world around you. So put your mask on first; love yourself unconditionally first. Feel the power of a conscious recognition that you are of Source. Then go about doing what Source does, creating universes. Happy manifesting everyone!

The Mayo Jar

From time to time, I come across stories of inspiration and/or enlightenment that strike me as incredible examples of spiritual truth. The following story is one such example. It's been making the viral e-mail rounds here of late, but I found it powerful enough to include in my own archives as well. Don't know the author, but I thank him/her for this wonderful contribution. I hope you find it as powerful as I did:

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day is not enough;
remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly,
he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and start to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again
if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand
and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded
With an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table
and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - God, family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions
Things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --
The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are
important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time
to clean the house and fix the dripping tap.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand
and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.

'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Upgrading your Awareness

There is a phrase that goes “Heaven must be re-won everyday.” What this speaks to is the importance of not resting on your laurels, to not simply coast on the momentum of past spiritual and creative expression, but to re-engage everyday with a fresh sense of purpose and spiritual commitment. It also means consistently reevaluating your state of consciousness on a daily basis, because our existence on this physical plane and within the multiverse is dynamic and not static. You are not who you were yesterday, nor are you who you will be tomorrow. You are ever evolving, ever growing, so it is important to exercise a conscious awareness of this process regularly. The goal here that we are ultimately striving for and moving towards is a state of full consciousness, the ability to be aware of our multi-layered existence in both the inner worlds and outer worlds simultaneously, while working from the framework of the higher self so as to live in an enlightened, balanced way.

As I had mentioned in a recent article, A New Normal, we’ve existed in this physical realm for eons of time in a state of conditioned illusion, believing that we are separate from our divine source, and as such have found ourselves at the whims and woes of our outer environment. We have been led to believe that we are victims living in a world of fear and oppression, unable to make a difference or effect positive change in a substantial way. These states of consciousness are all pretentious negative hogwash, stimulated through an unrelenting, manipulative, and coercive conditioning; a sort of slight of hand that moved us from a conscious awareness of our true identity as divine connected Souls, sparks of God-source, to separated and hapless victims. The truth is, we are not our conditioning. We are all magnificent sparks of God awareness, endowed with the same potentiality and freedom of expression. But in this false belief of separation, we have come to judge one another and ourselves quite harshly. I say to you now that it is time to cease this practice; you all feel it, the energy is there. Do not sit in judgment of yourself or others. Learn to love yourself and your fellow Souls unconditionally. Now is the time to be who we were meant to be.

We are fast transitioning from 3rd dimensional reality to 4th & 5th, and with it evolving into a new and wonderful awareness that allows us to see our true origins as sparks of God-centered energy. Just knowing and acknowledging that you are a divine spark of God, that you are God itself moves you beyond duality. Ego can hold you back, but the truth is that there has never been separation between you and Source. Say it a couple of times, dare to think it…“I and God are One”. Feel the totality of this truth; there is no separation, this is illusion. There is only connectedness with All That Is.

As you go about your day-to-day activities, bombarded by the drones of negative media, dysfunctional imagery, and harsh selfish human interaction, do your best to rise above the negative fray and be a conduit of love, for when you do you more and more begin to see the stage play that is unfolding around you, and that in truth you may be in it but you are certainly not of it, unless you choose to be. This is not an attitude of spiritual arrogance, but a conscious recognition of the illusions that play out around us everyday. You still do your daily work and fulfill your daily requirements, but your consciousness is able to rise above the mundane physical into Soul awareness and eventually God consciousness. When you achieve this, you are always living in a state of bliss for you know that you dwell in the most high. It is what we all were brought here to eventually remember. The universe is inside of each and every one of us. We only need to do the daily work in order to lift the veil of spiritual amnesia and get back into a conscious awareness of our true identity. Don’t be afraid of this process. Nothing can hurt you, not really. The only thing to fear is… you know the rest. So work at being a conscious practitioner of your own enlightenment. It will be a wonderful journey, for eternity awaits.

Do It Anyway

While going through some old texts and correspondences, I came across a much beloved saying by Mother Teresa that I forgot I had. Upon reading it again, it strikes a chord as strong, if not stronger, as when I first found it. So I felt it was definitely worth sharing with all of you out of love and sincere gratitude:

Do It Anyway
by Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical, And self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you Of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some False friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank; People may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

A New Normal

Normalcy is relative. It’s dependent upon what one accepts and/or becomes familiar with in his/her daily life. It is often consistent with what one becomes conditioned to allow into his/her state of consciousness over time. Conditioning is in a major way at the heart our collective experience, and is perhaps one of the biggest contributors to our current world situation and existence on this physical plane. We have for so long been inculcated into such an extensively dysfunctional cultural and societal experience that for many of us there is no clear understanding or comparative representation of just how living the life of a true light-filled Spiritual Being (Child of God) should be, or even could be. This conditioning has occurred over eons of time and through multiple generations. As a result, we have come to live in a world of stress and fear where the playing field is far from level and success often depends on the exercise of selfish intent and disposition, perpetuating a Service to Self rather than Service to Others mentality and consciousness. This is considered by many to be normal. But now, in our ever-present and growing awareness of the spiritual ascension process currently underway, things are changing...drastically. We are transitioning to a new normal.

Coming into a clear and conscious understanding of the relativity of normal was made abundantly clear to me many years ago when I served as a drug treatment counselor in an urban DC methadone clinic. I’ve referenced this before in an earlier entry entitled The Hub of Your Wheel. As a clinician, I worked with a large caseload of clients struggling with heroin addiction but also dealing with poly-substance abuse ranging from cocaine to alcoholism, prescription drug abuse, and even sexual addiction. This environment lent itself on a regular, unrelenting basis to a very high degree of human drama, whether it was from extreme emotional volatility in daily group meetings and individual therapy sessions or a particular client having relapsed for the ump-teenth time and found to be in non-compliance with treatment requirements, resulting in dismissal from the program.

Every day there was a crisis of some sort, and after a while it got to the point where I and many of my colleagues began to find ourselves both expecting these episodes and no longer considering them to be any big deal. There was nothing strange or abnormal about the intensely stressful environment that we were working under. I was slowly becoming emotionally divested from the activities I was involved in, merely responding appropriately to a given clinical situation and/or challenge, but finding myself somewhat detached from what was going on (under the circumstances, not necessarily a bad thing). This same description has often been associated with public servants such as policemen, paramedics and/or medical ER professionals, and the military that deal with life and death situations everyday. There is sometimes a tendency to become oblivious to the madness that they encounter daily, and desensitize themselves from their surroundings often as a coping mechanism. Such was the case with me in this drug treatment environment. The challenge was, being a person of inherent empathy and compassion, I did care what happened to my clients and found myself often pained with their plight, unable to help them since in many cases they were as yet unable or unwilling to help themselves. I continued on this journey for a number of years until eventually burnout set in, and I had to make the difficult decision to either stay and succumb to the stress, or leave and pursue a different career path for my own personal survival and emotional wellbeing. I only mention this life episode to illustrate how “normal” for me became anything but normal, and how over time people can begin to see things from a highly skewed perspective, not realizing that what might be considered normal is in fact an altered state.

Such is the state that we as a world society have been living in for millennia. We have been the generational victims of a sorted dark manipulation of our true divine nature, and have over time been conditioned to become the unwilling effect of a fear-based existence, struggling through the control and restrictive beliefs that such fear can bring into our consciousness and lives. We have been held hostage to man’s law, where initially there was a consistency with a common law understanding that drew clear and easily discernable delineations between right and wrong, but over time has been manipulated to unfairly favor the interests of a selfish and elite few, creating illusions of limitation and oppression for others. This is not the way life should be. This is not the way life was intended to be, and it is now up to us to reclaim our true place as divine light beings existing in the energies of love, joy, and happiness. It is now time that we no longer accept the limitations that have been placed on our personal and social consciousness. But before change can be impacted through a mass transition of Divine Light, change must first take place from within, for we are in fact the conduits and channels of this light.

Research has shown that the amygdala, a small almond shaped part of the brain located near the hippocampus, is responsible for conscious thought as well as emotion. One of the core emotional responses triggered in the amygdala is fear, which was initially hot-wired to protect us in hostile environments with a fight-or-flight response to danger. The problem is that our environment has been created to perpetuate a consistent fear response without reprieve, stimulated by the uncertainties of life, economic triggers, dog-eat-dog competitiveness, and an illusory belief that there is limitation in this world; that there is not enough and that every man/woman must fend for themselves. This is a false premise based on a false perception, but one that has been manipulated and perpetuated for so long that we have been conditioned into believing it is real. Tied to this fear based illusion is the feeling of victimization, unworthiness, and an acceptance of a limited station in the pecking order of society; again, all an illusion. We have on a mass scale become conditioned like Pavlov’s dog, responding to cause and effect stimuli that have perpetuated the myth. It is now time to get off of this broken cycle and begin a new way of living, breathing, thinking, feeling and being. The time for a new normal is now.

We are approaching a new day; a new horizon of possibilities and beauty where love, compassion, honesty, integrity, creative expression and the pursuits of individual passion rule, and fear no longer has a foothold on our interactions with one another. More and more people are beginning to awaken to their true identity as Soul and realizing that within the current status quo, the emperor(s) have no clothes. More and more people are rejecting the fear and realizing that they are all Divine Beings with the potential of living in abundance; understanding that through the law of attraction there is enough! More and more people are realizing that there needs to be wholesale changes made in the gross inequities of man’s law so as to become more in alignment with God’s law, a law based on love, balance, fairness and equity for all. These are the changes that are being undertaken across the world today, for we are the change that we seek. It is time to rise.

Mass ascension is now upon us. It is now time for you to be a part of this spiritual renaissance of upliftment. It is time for you to once and for all become the change that you have always wanted to be. We are no longer the pawns of a skewed reality presented to us as normal, but are moving into a higher place, a greater perspective, a higher self. Now is the time to practice abundance and accept it into your life. Now is the time to become the Light Being and Lightworker that you truly are, and awaken to your true self.

Remember, your universe is consistent with your state of consciousness. It’s time for a new normal. What you think and what you believe is what will manifest, so outflow the correct energy, an energy based on love and not fear. Accept abundance in your life. Reject the fear and anything associated with it. Let the bad stuff go, forgive others and let go of worry. Be kind to your fellow man/woman. Unworthiness is an illusion. You are loved, so learn to love yourself unconditionally. Meditate, pray, or whatever you feel comfortable with, but do so daily in order to tap into the higher energies and become accustomed to these refined rates of vibration. They resonate through you and cleanse the body, heart, mind, and Soul. It is the mechanism of change, the power of love. Have fun with life; it’s not all work and drudgery. Don’t forget to play. Accept a perfect day this day and every other. Get the ego out of the way; it’s a bad and selfish leader and is not who you truly are.

We are now in a global collective consciousness where we are starting to become spiritually aware of the connection that has always existed, and the connectedness with one another and the universe. Know that our world is filled with people of light who want to share in the love, mutual respect and comradery with one-another. Draw to you people of like consciousness who are ready to do their part to change the world. As you’re doing your part, others are doing theirs in similar fashion. What we are talking about here is a critical mass consciousness based on the light of Divine love. It changes things in major ways. Be a part of this change. It is now. Own your personal power and do not allow anyone or anything to take it away; it is yours! It’s time to change the world. Let’s do it together. Visualize the new normal, NOW!

Namaste.

Spirituality and Elbow Grease

Creating your universe in accordance with both your individual state of consciousness and sincere intention requires a combination of spiritual energy and personal effort. The formula is not that difficult to understand or even execute, but takes a certain level of discipline, consistency and daily focus that some of us may or may not be willing to exert. This is of course your choice as to whether or not to be an active participant in your own manifestation, but what must be made clear is that something will manifest, whether you are conscious of it or not; ignorance or lack of effort is not an excuse. So it seems to me (and this is just my 2¢ worth) that you might as well be an active and aware part of your own manifestational existence and experience. Again, it is not rocket science in understanding the how’s and what’s of the process. Certainly there are a myriad of books on the subject pertaining to manifesting things in your life. But one of the things that often get lost in these instructions is the importance of right-thought followed by right-action, a combination of spirituality and elbow grease. This is when the rubber meets the road.

Are you doing everything within your sphere of influence and power to move yourself closer to your goals? Are you acting on all that the cosmos is giving you on a daily basis? Are you aware and receptive to Spirit’s nudges, golden-tongued wisdom and waking dreams that are a part of our everyday experience? Are you consciously aware of the miracles that take place all around you everyday? If not, then you need to take a step back and get yourself in spiritual balance so as to be awake and aware of all of the inner, intuitive energies taking place around you, and tune yourself to these frequencies so you can better read the tea leaves. This is accomplished through regular meditation and contemplation exercises, many of which are shown on the Ato1 Health and Wellness page. Once grounded and tuned in, it is important to do the daily work, the elbow grease necessary to act on impulses and nudges from spirit that are designed to move you closer to your goals, whatever they may be. Once done, you “let go and let God”, as the saying goes. Spirit is an omniscient, intelligent force, and knows vastly more than you could ever comprehend in terms of getting you closer to where you wish to be. You simply need to trust it and allow it to bring you closer without any preconceived notions of how to get there; stop being a control freak. Several options may come your way in the process, all having the potential of getting you where you need to be, but none necessarily containing the prescription of absolute certainty. Therefore, you must act on all of them, not just the ones you like more than others; you simply don’t know enough. As you practice this process more and more, you will begin to trust what is being told to you and feel a certain level of protection and guidance that you may not have been aware of before. This is a good thing and should be nurtured, developed and appreciated. Spirit wants you to succeed.

We are in a time now where the cosmic energies are much more refined and powerful, and the cause and effect relationship of our thoughts becoming things seem to be much shorter in duration. As such, this mental discipline becomes even more important to refine, for we want to make sure that we do not create the things we fear the most, but create our universe based on the energies of love and abundance. In the final analysis, the “things” that you attain through these exercises are not really what's important at all. What is important is your ability to trust in and understand the process of attainment itself. Remember, you are all Masters in training; celestial beings preparing yourself for eternity's call-of-service as co-workers with All That Is. The most important thing to understand throughout this entire process is that the skills you are refining are skills you have always had, for you are not learning anything but remembering what you already know. Our course of attainment and existence is, in the final analysis, one of validation through experience of truth already attained. Source, all knowing and all seeing, experiences life through us, for we are IT and IT is us. We Are One. So roll up your sleeves and get cracking; creation awaits.

Embracing the Silence (True, Necessary, and Kind)

As seekers of the light, as awakened Souls, part of our ongoing exercise during this lifetime is to refine our personal levels of awareness and spiritual skill sets in order to become optimal channels for Divine love. Within this refinement comes an innate understanding that where your thoughts are will invariably be where you reside. To put it another way, our personal universe is determined by our state of consciousness and the thoughts and feelings we choose to allow in it. Throughout history, man/woman has sought to discipline these thoughts and embrace the light, even while living in a world of pain, fear, struggle, and darkness. Some have resorted to extreme measures of spiritual depravity through vows of poverty and celibacy, hoping ultimately for absolution in the end. Still others have chosen a monastic existence vowing an oath of silence. This particular modality is one that I’d like to focus on briefly, not so much from the standpoint of a separation from societal challenges into the more communal existence of an ashram, but more from the standpoint of embracing the power of silence as a tool for living the spiritual life while engaged in the world of 3D and all of its limitations, personal foibles and “mind” fields.

The silence that I speak of has less to do with non-communication to any and all you may encounter, and more to do with the exercise of what has often been called right-discrimination. This right-discrimination has as one of its key features the ability to determine what is appropriate and/or not appropriate to think, say or do in any given situation, and the internal mechanism (the internal filter) used to help replace any lower based thoughts and energies with higher, more refined levels of consciousness. For so long, we have been conditioned within 3rd dimensional existence to accept and embrace gossip, selfishness, slander, ridicule, deception, mean spiritedness, and an overall Machiavellian spirit as just the way the world is, almost dismissing it as simply being part of normal acceptable behavior instead of the scourge of lower fear-based consciousness that it truly is. As lightworkers, this level of consciousness can no longer be tolerated as acceptable behavior; not because of any hard and fast rules dictated from outside, but because they are no longer consistent with the higher vibrational energies of Divine love that now flow through you.

In achieving this embrace of silence, I would like to share something I learned quite a while ago that may be very important in achieving this goal. There is a long held understanding in evolutionary consciousness of a simple rule; a litmus test through which everything that you think, say or do should be filtered through. Within this prism of right-discrimination are three basic questions that should always be invoked:

- Are what you are about to say, think and/or do TRUE, NECESSARY, and KIND?

Notice that I used the word “and” instead of “or” in the three choices posed. This is because in order for the filter to be effective, all three criteria must be met. You may have something to say that you consider true, but is not necessary or kind. You may have something that you consider to be true and necessary, but again is not kind. You get the idea. All three categories need to be met in order to fulfill this filtering process. Obviously, in extreme circumstances, exceptions might have to be made in resolving issues, but as a general rule, this criteria should always apply. Give it a try; see how you do. If you are true to this exercise, you will discover something extraordinary and immediate. The vast majority of what you may be saying to others will become noticeably restricted, since much of our conversation is often filled with gossip and mean-spiritedness. You will find yourself becoming more and more quiet, ultimately embracing the silence. As I said before, it is a means to an end, not an end in itself. At first it may seem a real challenge; it certainly was for me. But after a while you find that something very transformative occurs. Perhaps those within your social circle to whom you had considered “friends” may begin to fall away, because you realize that the only thing you had in common with them was gossip or the putting down of others. When they say something negative, you either give it no energy or counter it with something positive. Your social circle will begin to look at you differently and perhaps even turn on you because who you were is no longer who you are, and as the old saying goes, “If you can’t change your friends, change your friends.” Things begin to fall away that are no longer consistent with your state of consciousness and spiritual growth. In the long run the rules that you live by are of the highest spiritual vibration, and the circle of your relationships begin to adjust to meet this new state.

Some may view your kindness as a sign of weakness, but what they don’t yet understand is that you are not doing this for their sake, you are living within your truth, and that while they are still existing in the illusion, your inner strength and awareness of “reality” is moving you far beyond 3rd dimensional conditioning. It is just one of the many sub-plots of waking up to your true identity as Soul. So to recap, embracing the silence is an end result to refining your internal filter so as to live, love, communicate, and exist from the highest spiritual vibration; the highest Divine realm. Is it true, is it necessary, is it kind? If not, there’s no need to say it, think it, or be it. When you live within this consciousness, your inner light will begin to shine ever so bright, your inner chatter begins to quiet down and is replaced by the loving energies of Source. You are moving closer to ascension and your personal universe is being changed forever. Don’t forget to wear your shades.

Time to Step Up

Ok, where are you now? How are you feeling? Are you in balance? Are you in a happy place, a loving place? Are you taking good care of yourself? Are you honoring your relationships? How is your diet? Are you exercising regularly? Does your exercise include a physical and spiritual emphasis? Are you meditating or some other form of daily inner work? Are you finding time to embrace the silence? Are you handling your outer stress better? Are you reading and/or taking in things of a high vibration? Are you striving for greater awareness every day? Is your inner light shining bright? Well…?

I’m sure you must be asking why all these questions and who are they directed towards. Well if you don’t already know, I’m speaking to those of you have either just recently awakened and come online to your true identity as Soul, or those of you who have had your lights on for some time now, but may be slacking off a bit. How are you? As for why, it’s really quite simple. You see, right now the energies and vibrations of our universe and specifically our planet are increasing exponentially, and it is so very important that we all do our respective parts to align ourselves with the flow of these energies and the ascension that is already occurring, and will continue to occur. In this new year, it’s time to do an honest self-assessment of where you are and what you’re doing (non-judgmental of course), and determine where you may be in the process; this is your wake up call folks. This inquiry is designed to impart a little bit of tough love to all of you out there, because depending on where you are right now or what you are or aren’t doing, it is now time to step up; we need your energy.

If you are awakened, are you living the life of an aware spiritual being? Are you doing the daily work necessary to get your inner and outer self in balance? Are you connecting with your higher self in a conscious, knowing way? Are you asking for help and guidance when you need it from your many loving Angels and spiritual guides, your inner family always ready and waiting to provide for you whatever you may need? Bottom line, are you walking the talk of a conscious, awakened Lightworker? If not, why not? Not judging, just asking.

Perhaps it’s because of the seemingly constant demands placed on you in these uncertain times by 3D existence, to continue the daily grind that a survival mentality requires. Perhaps it’s simply the conditioning you’ve received by virtue of the many incarnations we’ve all had on this earth and the intoxication that Maya (illusion) so strategically plays on each of us to forget who and what we are; that this is the illusion, not the reality. Whatever the reason may be, snap out of it! : )

It’s your time now. It’s your moment to step up. It is the beginning of the final leg of your journey in 3D. It’s just about graduation time. But ascension won’t be handed to you on a silver platter; you have to do the work. You have to step up and do what is necessary to prepare yourself for the inevitable shift that is already taking place. The transition really isn’t that hard, but it does require a commitment to a conscious shift in attitude and intention. You have to want this. You have to be a conscious conduit of love. There is a wonderful quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that says, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” I’ve always loved this quote because it speaks directly to the idea of personal empowerment and the ability to decide for yourself what you choose to accept or not accept. With this as a template, Eleanor’s quote could just as easily be restated, “No one can make you feel anything without your consent,” or even “No one can impact your consciousness without your willing intention.” You have the power to choose what you accept into your consciousness. This is your inherent power; your inalienable right. Illusion simply makes you forget, and fear is an illusion. The awakened individual no longer falls victim to this trap, and lives his/her life in a conscious, aware and loving way. The awakened individual does not rest on his/her laurels, but does the daily work necessary to consistently maintain a higher state of vibration. This vibration is necessary to both protect you and allow you to serve as one of the many spiritual vessels necessary to help the planet and everything in it ascend in the perfect way. We are conscious lightworkers, and there is no need to take a vacation from this state of being because in so many ways it is the freedom we have always sought. Why, because we are consciously connected to Source in all of its love and glory at all times. We remember what our true missions are and what our tasks at this pivotal moment of NOW should be. We are in a constant state of bliss because we know what Divine truth is. Most importantly, we know that the multiverse was created through Divine Love.

Whatever you need to do, whomever you need to speak to, wherever you need to go in order to connect, plug yourself back in and amp it up! Source loves you unconditionally, but as the old saying goes, “God cannot do for you what it can only do through you.” Be the channel, the conscious channel that you are. Do your spiritual work daily to maintain that heightened vibration you know will keep you above the fray. Remember, you are God itself; there is no separation. You only need remember and all will be here for you. You just need to roll up your sleeves and get to it. Much love and light.

Personal log: Goodbye to a Dear Friend (Response by Betty)

After posting my earlier homage to Mario, I received this heartfelt correspondence from his loving wife Betty, and felt that it deserved much greater prominence than a simple blog response. So I would like to share with all of you this spiritually enlightened introspection from her.

To Betty, I know that I can speak for everyone when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, and we all surround you in the light of God's love. One more thing worth noting, please go to Art by Mario to view some of the amazingly beautiful artwork from this wonderful and creative Soul. Namaste:


Thank you Darrell, dear friend. I am touched by your kindness and compassion. It's people like you who make surviving a personal tragedy more bearable. Even though Mario died from an accident, there are really no accidents. We only may take different paths to meet our destiny where all our choices will eventually lead...by one road or another. What we learn along the way and the love we share is what is most important. His thirst for knowledge and love of Truth was his driving passion in life and I believe Mario achieved what he came here to do. I choose to see him as having gone ahead to lead the way for others through his shining light which will serve as a beacon for those who loved him. I'll miss you always Mario, but in time grief will be replaced by joyful memories. I am fortunate to have shared 26 years with you.

His loving wife, Betty

Personal log: Goodbye to a Dear Friend

I just received word that a good friend and spiritual brother of mine, Mario, has transitioned to a higher realm. His passing was sudden but as I understand it, serene, despite having been fatally wounded from a fall he suffered in Brazil. His loving companion, Betty, is coping with the loss the best way she can, and is now in the comfort of friends and family support. While she is completely awake and totally aware of her and Mario’s true identity as Soul, the sudden shock of such an episode still cuts deeply, evoking questions of “why?” or “what if?” But Soul never dies, and Mario is still among us, certainly surrounding Betty in a warm and intense love embrace, and connecting with family and friends. In honor of Mario, I wanted to share a poem that he wrote some time ago entitled “Before the Sound Was ‘I’”. It speaks to the depth and breadth of this wonderful man’s spirit, awareness, and heart. It expresses the dynamic of spiritual entropy, chaos to order, that we as a collective consciousness have been working through in pursuit of divine love and truth. We’ll miss you Mario. Be well, keep in touch:


Before the Sound Was "I."

Sonic malignant waves touch all in their wake;
Shrill, pinching sounds, unhealthy tonic of embedded harmonics
Roaring to unholy rhythms, progressive artful resonant fusion,
Sweeping over RNA neuron pathways of God in a hell-storm of confusion.

The planet of our unconscious world is a distant dilated pupil,
Hanging in Satan's firmament, closed-eyed and fearful,
No longer a shining star emanating goodwill and gentleness of Soul,
A synthesized construction, paced and placed to the beat of discipline.

The sleeping mind hears naught but bliss and octavian leads
Tugging on heart strings leading to labyrinths of slavish minotaur.
Our world is built on undulating forms, stiff and rigid,
The harmonics of control, the science of robotics.

A grand orchestra of Oz plays a frontal lament, a guitar gently weeping.
Yes, we all cry and sway, utterly fatigued by the dance of poly-fragmented characters,
As we stand back and watch our human-ness undulate dimly on the wall.
Truly life is spent in pursuit of real music...

And yet from wretchedness, behind it all, is the knowledge of harmony,
The truth of elements and true gods.
Where creation is built on symmetry and love.
A soulful wave of happy entities...we are Truth...after all.


Mario

I See You: Avatar’s Spiritual Essence

First and foremost, what an amazingly breathtaking movie Avatar is. Director James Cameron (of Titanic fame) has, in my opinion, really raised the bar for what the future of movie viewing will now be. This is a real game changer. The cinematic beauty and visual detail alone fills the senses in a way not quite experienced before. Add to this the element of 3D and you have a paradigm-shifting film. But the power of Avatar does not lie in its visual effects; it lies in the story. This is not a 3D movie, but an amazingly beautiful, poignant story and cinematic journey that happens to be in 3D.

For me, what makes this movie experience so fulfilling is the spiritual essence that the story of Avatar contains. Without going into too much plot detail, Earthlings have found an inhabited moon called Pandora that contains an abundance of life and a wealth of natural resources, just prime for the taking. The indigenous humanoid life forms on Pandora are known as the Navi, blue 10-foot aboriginal beings that share a very close connection with the land. This connection is not to be taken lightly for it is the essence of their existence on Pandora. Humans, through bio-technology have developed Avatar host bodies who look almost identical to the Navi. These Avatars can be controlled by DNA-linked humans through a remote harmonized synaptic connection, thereby allowing them to interact with the natives directly. Of course things become problematic when the need for the Navi to protect the land goes head-to-head with human shareholder interests to excavate and pillage the rich planetary resources abundant on the planet. This of course is not a new theme, and I recognize some similarities to another great movie, Dances With Wolves.

But the true power of this epic tale lies in understanding the spiritual connection that the Navi have with its planet and all things contained in it, and the balance created when people respect and honor the land and its resources vs. the misguided and disconnected notion of supreme ownership, entitlement and conquest. There are some movie critics who make the assertion that Avatar reeks of a pagan, pantheistic focus on spirituality. While this is an interesting interpretation, these critics clearly do not get the significance or importance of what this movie is trying to convey. It is about how maintaining a harmonic balance between sentient beings and their surroundings is a key ingredient to spiritual upliftment. This is only one of the many messages that Avatar imparts. The connection to the planet and its resources shown very literally in this movie is an allegory to the actual literal connection that everyone in fact has to the earth, to all living things, and to the universe as a whole; we have simply forgotten this connection exists.

The Navi have an affectionate greeting of endearment to one another, which in their native tongue they affirm “I see you”. This greeting goes much deeper than “I see you standing there”, but that “I see into you, I see your soul and your essence”. In fact, I get you. This is just one illustration of the deep and wonderful solidarity that the Navi have. The Avatar humans slowly come to understand this significance, and as more and more of them begin to see deeper into the true meaning behind this spiritual way of life, they become increasingly conflicted with the ultimate plans that are about to be inflicted by their employers on the Navi. It is from here on that things really get interesting.

I have mentioned a few key spiritual aspects of this movie. But there is one more important theme that was made very clear to me while watching. This is the fact that we are all living in Avatars ourselves. The truth is that our human bodies are nothing more then vessels designed to allow us to have mobility in 3 dimensional space. But in fact, we are not the bodies we occupy; we are Soul, a divine spark of spiritual awareness. We are truly sparks of the eternal itself using a human host to live, breath and have our being on this physical plane.

If I have any criticism of the movie at all, it would probably be that the bad guys seem a little overly two-dimensional to me. There wasn’t enough conflict of conscience for my taste, but that’s just me. I am tempted to go into much greater detail about the movie and its many layers, but I will refrain from doing so in case you have not yet seen it. I highly recommend that you do. It is a sensory filled treat, and has much to say about who we are and where we should be going in our own respective spiritual journey. More than anything, Avatar symbolizes the vital importance of connecting to our higher essence. It is a siren song for us to awaken to our true selves as Soul. Many are getting this message and are heeding the call. To all of you who are getting it, I SEE YOU.