July 18, 2015 Musings From a Mind Drugged out on Dance

A Body Satiated With a Night Well Danced is Fertile Ground for a Pondering Mind

I sit here unwinding and pleasantly exhausted from a night filled with the laughter of friends and an overdose of dancing. While my body sinks gratefully into the chair, my mind jumps up like a kid on a sugar high, dashing hither and yon. It ponders the events of the day, of the week and how so many things, so many people are simply connected.

The spiritual community has, for many months now, been both vocal and consistent in the prediction that many souls will choose to leave this year. Though we’ve seen many celebrities move to that great stage in the hereafter this year, many of those who left were simply old and tired. They’d been practicing their craft, entertaining the masses for decades, so their passing in their 80’s and 90’s wasn’t really much of a stretch.

So too is it true that, despite the seeming coincidence of three friends losing a parent in the last week, old age and failing bodies is still the logical explanation. Though my parents are long gone, many of my friends are spending a large portion of their time caring for aging parents these days, knowing that they won’t be around forever, and treasuring whatever time they might have left.

My question would encompass the younger, healthy people who die tragically like the four Marines felled by a terrorist earlier this week or a child killed by a drive by shooter; a young mother killed in a car accident or a kazillion other accidents and heinous acts which take the lives of people who seemingly had so much left to do with their lives.

Who Can Really Say Whether It Is Accident, Choice or Fate?

Yet, I must ask myself, Is it possible that even those killed tragically chose that time, that place to send their soul on a new journey? For those who are new to my blog, or only read the occasional post, you may not be aware that I’m a firm believer in choices, including those which determine time for what we humans call ‘death’. I also believe that our souls take many journeys, and perhaps not all of those are human, nor are all of them taken on Earth. I cannot provide proof for my beliefs any more than a religious person could prove to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that there exists a being they call ‘God’. Some aspects of our Faith, our Belief System can be proven (or disproven) scientifically, but the question of where our souls go when our human body expires is, thus far, not one of them.

Ergo, if we can’t prove for certain where the soul goes, how can we prove whether or not it leaves a body by choice, by fate or by accident? I do enjoy debating this with friends of different belief systems, but only those who agree that we are not trying to convince each other, or prove our own beliefs, but simply share and give each other new ideas to ponder. To be honest, part of the development of my own beliefs came from opportunities to compare and contrast those of others without pressure to conform. In fact, there are probably nearly as many ideas from my Spiritual but not Religious friends which fail to resonate as there are from those who follow a particular religion.

Everyone’s Beliefs are Right…For Themselves

Though I truly believe that whatever a person believes is right, as long as they understand that it may not be right for me, I’ve gotten myself in trouble a few times with this viewpoint. I’ve encountered those who feel very strongly that their beliefs are the only right way. My first reaction to this is to try to argue with them. WRONG! Just because they believe theirs is the only way by no means affects me or my beliefs. They can think they know what’s best for me from now until the end of time, but in reality, they don’t get to choose what’s right for me anyway, so why belabour the point?

You want to call on a deity you’ve named ‘God’ and insist that he guides you and takes away your problems if you let him? Great. I’m happy that works for you. You want to call it ‘prayer’ when you send thoughts of love, comfort and healing to someone? Perfect! I call it something else, but the end result of both our thoughts is the same.

The concept of souls moving from place to place, body to body is certainly not shared by everyone. I have friends who subscribe to the “one soul, one body” concept wherein the soul and the body will be reunited at some specified point in the distant future. That seems a little morbid to me, but who am I to say they’re wrong? It’s certainly simpler for them as they don’t feel the need to ponder the question of accident, choice or fate like I do.

For now, I’ll send healing energy to those who have lost a loved one, knowing that they’re sad, regardless of how or why the loved one passed. Grieving is a normal human process and, like Sadness from the movie ‘Inside Out’, it serves a purpose. It allows others to reach out and offer comfort and it builds bonds. It’s also something most of us, at least by the time we reach a certain age, can certainly relate to.

I don’t have an answer to my question yet, and the year is still unfolding in all of its crazy glory. I think it will take at least a tiny glimpse of why those choices are purportedly being made before I can reach any conclusions which will satisfy my constantly enquiring mind.

My gratitudes tonight are:
1. I am grateful for the people in my life, whether they be like minded or offer a completely different perspective.
2. I am grateful for choices and for diversity. I no longer feel weird being different. I simply revel in my own personal uniqueness.
3. I am grateful for body numbing nights of dance which get the mental juices stirring.
4. I am grateful for the lovely, lengthy downpour and the cosmic light show we enjoyed today.
5. I am grateful for abundance; love, dancing, friendship, ideas, laughter, joy, health, happiness, peace, harmony, choices, prosperity and philanthropy.

Blessed Be

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November 13, 2014 Why do humans stand in judgement? #shericonaway

Have you ever been slammed for posting your opinion?

A few days ago, after listening to an incredibly beautiful rendition of “Mary Did you Know” by Pentatonix, I was prompted to post the following comment:

 I love the song even though it’s really a religious song which doesn’t apply to me, personally. This version is hauntingly beautiful.

What followed was a dozen posts, some agreeing with me, some understanding what I was saying without judgement, and then, there were those who I put into the category of “the only right way to believe and have faith is mine. All others will go to hell unless they see my light.” They include the following:

 1. Just maybe it’s trying to tell you something – really listen to the words. God bless you in a special way.

 

2. So sad to see people turning from faith. Just know that God is always there and waiting should you ever need him. I understand issues with “religion” just know that God only wants a “Relationship” with you and that is not found in ANY church. Prayers are for your salvation. Peace and love to you all.

 

3. There will come a time when you find out that it DID apply to you. So sad.

C.M. posted a very well-written response I’d like to share before giving you my response to quote number 1 above.

 

I don’t believe in god or the idea god was born from a Virgin so to me the lyrics don’t really say anything. They tell a story I don’t believe occurred. But I can respect those who believe it including PTX themselves and that such beliefs bring people a lot of peace, as long as they don’t take those ideals too far. And I respect it as a beautifully arranged and sung piece of music. I was happy to see several non-gospel songs on this album as going too far down the religious track can alienate a lot of people who don’t believe or have issues with religion.

Finally, here is my response to number 2 above:

 

So sad to see people believing that their concept of faith is the only one instead of embracing the diversity of our fellow humans, not only in looks and ideas, but also in beliefs. Coexisting means appreciating and even reveling in the fact that we do not all believe in the same things. I pity the narrow minded for they never allow themselves the opportunity to learn about those around them right down to their very core. They hit the spot that says “their god isn’t my god” and immediately say “something is wrong with that person.” Don’t you realize that by denying the rest of us in our own wholeness, you are denying an important part of yourself as well?

Not being one to get into a pissing match on someone else’s page, I simply answered “LOL” to number 3 and left it at that, knowing full well that I would at some point address it right here.

Why have so many people throughout history used religion and their so-called “faith” as an excuse to spew hatred and spread misery?

This morning, a dear friend shared the following and I think it sums up what I’m trying to say far better than I can say it (though you know I will expound further). From the Romans to the Crusades to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, man has seen fit to criticize, browbeat, discriminate and even murder those who follow a different “faith”, though, in every case, this really means “religion”. I don’t expect everyone to agree with my definitions, nor will I think any different of you if you do. I’m simply sharing my take, here.

In my opinion, religion has very little, if anything to do with a person’s faith. It is simply a man-made construct to bring people together, quite often for both a sense of community and to do good works for those less fortunate. But it is also misused on far too many occasions as an excuse to give small groups the power to think for the masses who then become mindless parrots for a bunch of dogma they don’t even understand. “Religion” in and of itself is simply another man made institution, ripe for abuse and no different from our political system. Individuals rise to power and dictate what the masses may do, believe and accept. Same sex marriage, anyone? How about homosexuality? Abortion?

“Faith”, which is too often erroneously used interchangeably with “religion”, is found in the heart of each individual, though many doom themselves to a life unfulfilled by stifling their own inner voice in order to conform with the beliefs and expectations of others. “Faith” is connecting directly with our Source, under whatever name we choose to give it. “Faith” can certainly be honored while following a particular religious path, provided one allows oneself to think outside that religion’s box. In a lot of cases with regard to Western religion, that means eschewing the belief in “the one and true faith” and accepting, even embracing the many different paths the people around us follow.

Here’s a news flash, folks. A man named “Jesus” did not die so that we could be absolved of our sins by accepting this man as our freaking savior. As far as I’m concerned, that’s about as meaningful as a mother telling her child “wait until your father gets home” instead of dealing with the child’s misbehavior herself.

We must all take responsibility for our own actions.

How’s that for a unique concept? You screw up, you have consequences. You can’t go into a predetermined building, confess your crime and be protected from those consequences. And why should you be? Without those consequences you wouldn’t learn…you wouldn’t grow! Consequences are a part of our learning experience. How audacious to say “just believe, unquestioningly, what we tell you and you will no longer have to face those nasty consequences every time you screw up or act unkindly.” How blind and unthinking to actually believe those words.

We’re intended to make mistakes along the way to becoming caring, thoughtful, giving people. Being a good Christian or Jew or Buddhist or Muslim or any other thing you might call yourself isn’t about going into a building once a week to be preached at or going through a bunch of preordained rituals called “praying”, it’s about giving love freely, respecting other people and their differences, being kind to everyone(and I know from personal experience that this one is tough!), and forgiving yourself and others when those inevitable mistakes occur.

I don’t claim to have mastered any of these things yet, and may not even do so in this particular human existence, but each mistake I make, each lesson I learn does bring me closer to my own Divinity, just as it does for everyone else. Passing judgement on those of us who don’t believe as you do, in my opinion, makes your road a little longer than mine because your lessons still involve learning to think for yourself, trusting your own heart and not only accepting but embracing the fact that others believe differently than you do.

Religion does have a purpose, but giving people an excuse for their bad behavior tarnishes the word for the rest of us, and causes it to leave a bad taste in our mouths. “Religion” and “Faith” might once have been synonymous but that day has passed.

I welcome and appreciate your comments, but please keep them friendly, addressing the issues, not the poster, whether that poster is me or another commenter. I realize that this post will elicit strong feelings in some, but you can still express those feelings in a manner which promotes an interesting discussion as opposed to a fight.

My gratitudes are:
1. I am grateful for the people who have woken up and embraced everyone’s right to believe as they choose.
2. I am grateful for the lessons I’m given to teach me to be more accepting and less judgmental.
3. I am grateful for the people who fire me up with their myopic views because they remind me to keep my own mind open and accepting.
4. I am grateful for my progress on the path to reconnecting with my own Divinity.
5. I am grateful for progress which comes into our lives in so many diverse ways.
6. I am grateful for abundance: challenges, love, lessons, peace, harmony, opportunities, charity, harmony, health and prosperity.

Namaste

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