The Grand Illusion ( the Illusion of Free Will )

"So if you think your life is complete confusion
'Cause you never win the game
Just remember that it's a grand illusion
And deep inside, we're all the same
All the same.. "

- Styx - The Grand Illusion

"A planet of playthings, we dance on the strings of powers we cannot perceive. The stars aren't aligned or the Gods are malign, blame is better to give than receive". These lyrics by the Progressive Rock band 'Rush' tout the virtues, not only of choice, but of Free Will. In my later years as a Christian, I too used to preach 'Free Will', to the disdain of most of my family, most of whom were strict Calvinists. Now, as a Pagan, my main mantra is, "It's all about choice!" Of course, this is merely from a humanistic point of view! The subject of this short treatise is to look at the question of 'Free Will' from a more spiritual perspective!

Previously, I had toyed with the notion that, as spiritual beings having a human experience, rather than the other way around; We do not actually have 'Free Will'! From a merely human perspective of course, like I said, we do, but with that said, I must remind my readers that we are NOT 'merely human'; "We are More than human!" Our Humanity is an integral ( though not necessary ) part of our Being, yes, but our humanness does not define Who we are. As a human being, I have been given the name 'Charles Haddon Shank', but as a spiritual being, I am known by other means. I mean, we can make up names, like 'God', for instance, or even 'Allah', but do names even apply to the One?! I call It 'the Source'; you may call It 'Energy', or even just 'the Universe', but are not all these just monikers; names given by human beings striving to understand & name the Nameless? 

To get back though, to the question of 'Free Will'; being that We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but rather are spiritual in nature; would it be correct to say that We have free will? To answer this question, we must go back to the Source! What then, is this Source? "What does he mean by 'Source'?!" I guess you could say that 'Creator' might be a more familiar term, except that, rather than being merely creatures of some creator, albeit with a 'Spark of Divinity', we actually ARE Divinity, Part & Parcel with the Source ( 'Energy'? )! As Part & Parcel with this 'Source', then, "as above, so below: "would it be correct to say that We have free will?" As individuals, we absolutely have 'Free Will'; everybody has a choice, right?! "Right', everyBODY has a choice! As spiritual beings, can we rightly say we have a choice? Here's where we might enter some choppy waters though: are we possessed of individual spirits, or are We, as Spirits, simply part of of the Collective? Some might wonder about the so-called 'evil spirits' that play havoc in the physical realm; "Are they individual spirits, or is the Collective itself 'evil'?" Such an argument might sound familiar to some Christians; "If God is truly Good, why does He allow evil to exist? "If God is truly Omnipotent..........................." 

Most of us, to whatever extent, have "been there, done that" ( either that, or we're choosing to remain blissfully ignorant ), but I'm not intending to start a religious argument here ( ? ), merely to define the term 'Free Will'. As a former Christian myself, I'm more than a little familiar with the biblical concept of the 'Satan', who with the other 'fallen angels', fell from Heaven. "If that doesn't prove 'Free Will', I don't know..................." Of course then, you have A & E, who were created "good", but Satan tempted them & they fell from Grace. So, if 'Satan' had 'Free Will' & Adam & Eve had 'Free Will'.................. According to the Bible; it would seem that Individual Spirits do exist & that We are not part of the Collective ( i.e. 'Glory Cloud' ) unless we so choose: this sounds kinda like, "Even though God is Omnipotent, He cannot save us unless we let Him"! For this blogger, the question is not even begged, but for the sake of those who are still mired in 'B.S.' ( Belief Systems ), I revisit these scenarios. As far as I'm concerned, the question of 'Free Will' is settled; it is a merely human concept!

The question of 'evil spirits' still remains: "if indeed there IS such a thing ( which I will NOT deny ), then would not that prove the existence of Individual Spirits?" ( Either that, or the Collective is Itself evil ) This may open up a can of worms, but "What if I told you the Collective is neither 'good' nor 'evil', that these are themselves merely human inventions?" Since then, the Collective is neither 'good' nor 'evil', then it would seem to follow that, as Part & Parcel with the Collective, We are neither 'good' nor 'evil'. "But what about 'evil spirits?" some may say; "Surely with all the bad things happening in the world today, there can be no doubt as to their existence?!" I would reply thusly; "Yes, bad things HAPPEN!" The reason that bad things happen in the world is that human beings have 'Free Will'; they often CHOOSE to do 'evil' rather than 'good'. "Is there such a thing as disembodied spirits then? " It's hard to say no to that question, but here's something to think about ( maybe a subject for a future blogpost too ); "keeping in mind the ( largely ) untapped Power of the Mind; might it be possible that what we observe as the work of 'evil spirits' is simply the manifestation of 'evil' human beings using their minds, whether knowingly or unknowingly, for nefarious purposes?!"

On the subject of the Power of the Mind, one might note that we have come full circle, back to our discussion of Free Will, for it is in the Mind that we make our Choices! One might note as well that I have used the terms 'good' & 'evil' rather loosely; the reason for this is that both terms are relative. What to one is 'good' may be 'evil' to another! For example, if one happens to kill another in self defense, it is justified in that one's mind & therefore relatively 'good', but to the relatives ( father, mother, sister brother, etc. ) this act ( of self defense ) might be seen as 'evil'. This can be applied as well to foreign wars: we go into other nation's territory, for whatever reason, commit genocide, again, for whatever reason, but we see this as 'Just War', as 'good', because these are known terrorist strongholds. The people of these nations, on the other hand, in defense of their lives & land, retaliate! To us, this is 'evil', but to them, it is 'good'. We, speaking collectively of course, in our finite wisdom, have chosen to live in Fear, rather than Faith in our fellow human beings!

Coming back around again, to the subject of 'Free Will': Although it is well nigh impossible to discuss this concept without getting into religious territory, the term itself need not carry a religious connotation. 'Free Will' plainly states just that; "the will is free!" Before we go too far though, down that rocky road, it must be acknowledged that there are some who would vehemently disagree with that statement! For instance, when one is addicted to something, some would say that the Will is NOT free, that such a person really has no choice in the matter. However, as far as this blogger is concerned, there is ALWAYS a choice. It may not be much of a choice ( "the lesser of two evils", for example ), even, as in Rush's 'Free Will', "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice". Now, can one's brain/mind become so utterly befuddled/befogged by this addiction, whatever it may be, that the person cannot control their actions?! Some would say "yes", while others might just as non-reservedly say "no"! Again, this blogger would lean fairly heavily toward "no", but maybe that's just me. People have gotten away with murder employing this argument & guess what? It's all about money! But, I digress...........

The Will is Free! As a wise man once said, "If you wanna be free, be free!" It's as simple as that! But........................it ain't easy......not by any means! The chemistry in the Brain is not as mysterious as it used to be, but there is still much there that cannot be fully explained. I really do not know if it's possible for one's brain to become fucked over to the point that the person looses the freedom of their will. "Is it possible that, through the overuse of drugs, or severe mental, or even physical trauma, one's ability to choose could be lost?" Whatever ones judgement may be on this matter, the position of this blogger is that, "no, of their own volition, they have allowed their brain to become so addled that they have lost the ability to make a RATIONAL decision, a viable choice, but even if that's the case, they still have made a choice, for 'good' OR 'evil'!

This, however, is humanly speaking. "As above, so below"; We are More than human! Whether one wants to use the term familiar to every Christian, 'Glory Cloud', or whether one freely acknowledges that We all, spiritually speaking, are part of 'the Collective ( 'Mind'? )'; we are all, in Essence, One! The Bible even speaks of us as being of one mind, that of the Christ! Now, again, this is by no means to say that we ARE ACTUALLY of one mind, at least not humanly speaking; we HAVE our own individual thoughts, but as spiritual beings & part of the Collective; we ARE, in Essence, the same Mind that hung the Stars!

It really is ALL about choice! However long ago, maybe a certain person makes the choice ( ignorantly ) to dive into a sea of drugs, whatever their drug of choice may be: even though they may loose the ability to make a rational decision, they still made their choice & they must live with their decision ( or die, as the case may be )! This is not to say that we should not strive to rescue them if we can, but we must also tread very carefully lest they bring us down with them. ( "Take care lest you partake in another person's karma!" ) However, this must be YOUR choice; YOUR judgment!

Namaste' & Blessed Be!

Sage Charles

She is Risen; Embracing the Rise of the Divine Feminine

 "Like the Phoenix, She has risen from the ashes!"

Well, it's THAT time of year again, when Christians of every denomination ( ? ) gather, to whatever extent, to worship ( again, "to whatever extent" ) the Risen Christ. To be honest, many Pagans worship ( honor ) the Risen Christ as well, though they see this process quite differently than Christians. More on this later. The Jehovah's Witnesses actually celebrate His Death, to my understanding, rather than His Resurrection. Whatever one believes about Jesus, whether he actually died on that cruel cross & therefore his supposed resurrection was actually just an elaborate production designed to further the concept that he was truly 'the Son of God', or indeed, if he even ever LIVED; the fact that His very Resurrection is metaphorical for our own ( as I have previously explained in this blog ) is inescapable. As a Christian, I perceived this glorious truth years ago, but as a Pagan, I now see this even more clearly!

Among the Eastern religions, even among those Christians who are open to certain aspects of these religions, for instance yoga & meditation, the word 'Kundalini' has experienced a rise in popularity of late. In my understanding, it goes something like this; "as the Kundalini rises up the spine, like Jesus was raised up on the cross, It is crucified somewhere between the heart chakra and the throat chakra, where the old ( ego-driven ) man dies and the new ( Spirit-led ) man is (re ) born." Yeah, I know; I just said "Spirit-led" like a Christian, but as I was writing a fairly lengthy email to my siblings the other day, I realized, rather 'punnily', that the famous initials  ( H.S. ) often applied to the so-called 'Holy Spirit' of Christianity also apply to our 'Higher Self'. This is not to say that our Higher Self is our ONLY recourse, for we have the Wisdom of the Ages at our spiritual fingertips!

To the Pagan, however, the phrase "She is Risen" means two things! One is that our Mother Earth, whose rebirth we celebrate around this time of year, has re-awoken, as the browns of Winter are quickly turning into the greens of Spring. 'New' Growth that has been silently gaining strength during the Dark Season, is now bursting forth into the Light of the Sun! The other turn of the phrase of which I speak is that of the Rise of the Divine Feminine. In times past, with the Rise of the Patriarchy, the Divine Feminine has been squelched: "Valiant effort, boys, but She will not be hid!" Take the Bible for instance; according to most of the modern transliterations extant today, it would seem that the Hebrew culture was, for the most part, a very patriarchal society, though this blogger isn't so sure about even that anymore. Further study on the matter, if one was so inclined, might well reveal a hidden Matriarchy! Whatever the case may be; though figures like 'Lilith' have all but disappeared from the text, there is still 'the Mother of all Living' to deal with, as well as 'the Mother of God', the Virgin Mary Herself. Then of course, we also have numerous examples like 'the disciple whom Jesus loved', which some surmise refers to the other Mary, the Magdalen. The Divine Feminine has been hidden in plain sight, if you will, for centuries, even maybe millenia, except of course, to the Pagan!

The Divine Feminine is embodied, of course, in our blessed Mother Earth! Though there is definitely a Divinity in our Mother Herself, the Rise of the Divine Feminine referred to in this post speaks of the human animal, the creature of Mother Earth. I say "the human animal" because it is not only the female, but the male as well, in which the Divine Feminine has Risen! Patriarchal Christians, in particular maybe in this country, have long decried the radical 'free-love' 60s, which also, strangely, heralded in the era of female independence! Actually, I should amend that, for though it was hidden from early on, and for the most part squelched, the world wars showed us how women could easily do the work popularly known as 'men's' The role of the woman in helping tame the Wild, Wild West must not be forgotten either! This, of course, is not to say that men, both in the Taming of the West & in both World Wars were not of equal importance, for thy most definitely were!

The Rise of the Divine Feminine in the male as well as female human being means that a Shift has happened & is happening! A Balance is occurring. Men are realizing that the hidden parts of themselves which they have been taught to squelch, even to some extent fear, are rather to be nurtured & expressed freely. Women are, for the most part, enjoying the freedom they've always felt they had & freely showing proficiency at what has always been the realm of men, though it's been a long, hard struggle!

These however, are merely some of the outward indications of this Rise: this Rising, like the Phoenix, is primarily a spiritual & metaphorical one! We are not looking to welcome back the Matriarchy, though this would arguably be a sight better than the Patriarchy we have borne witness to for the last several hundreds of years. What we are seeing in this country in the last decade or so with the female presidential campaigners is an indication that some have seen that men aren't the only ones qualified for such a demanding job, but that certain women possess certain qualities that make them viable candidates as well. ( It really is JUST a job; however important it may be! ) Of course, the Patriarchal Powers that Be have decided, in their finite wisdom, that we should keep men in the driver's seat of this old 'Bus'!

No, what is needed, both in this nation & across the world, is Balance; neither Matriarchy ( though things might look a lot different ) nor Patriarchy ( "Haven't we had enough yet?" ), but leaders, male & female. who have awakened to the fact that we all possess feminine & masculine qualities. When these leaders exercise these qualities in balance, as they must, we might start to hear of fewer wars & rumors of wars. We'd most likely hear about better equality in the workplace, even less crime on the street! Yes, what if I told you that much of the Crime we witness on a daily basis is due to this Imbalance?!

The role of Women, both in the shaping of this fledgling nation, as well as in the history of the 'civilized' world cannot be denied! In order not to make this post too long, I would simply invite you to do your own research  ( before the Patriarchy rewrites the history books or shuts the internet down ) or simply search your own memory banks. It will not be hard to find the Divine Feminine in the history of both our world & our own country!

So, this Easter, or Ostara, whether you are celebrating the coming of Spring & the Resurrection of Mother Earth or the Resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah of the Jews & whether you choose to look to the Holy Spirit of some 'God' out there for succor, or look to your own Higher Self & the Wisdom of the Ages ( The Akashic Records ) for all your needs; may you be blessed in all your endeavors, as long as they include the Peace of All of Mother Earth's ( or 'God's') Creatures!

Namaste' & Blessed Be! 

Sage Charles

What Comes Next

"THE MACHINES WERE COMING!"

"It had been coming for a long time; 294 years, to be precise. Joe knew that, before too long, the Machines that were currently engaged in beating down his door would gain full access to the only Gift that Humanity had thus far kept out of their greasy fingers. Some had seen the consequences of their actions from a mile away, but for the most part, the dissenters, for all intents & purposes, had been silenced. Long before the War began, however, the foreseeable consequences began to rear their ugly heads & the awful truth of what their conveniences might cost began to reveal itself. By this time, however, it was to late! The Machines had already become firmly & integrally ensconced ( 'entrenched' might be a better word for what had happened ) in our overall infrastructure. Almost before we knew what hit us ( generally speaking, anyway ), it was well-nigh impossible to accomplish the slightest task without some form of electronic assistance. Joe's aging parents, like so many other people, had retired into one of those so-called 'smart homes'. They loved the conveniences, such as a refrigerator that could order more milk when it got low, a toilet that would automatically clean itself every day & central air that was totally self-regulated. Why, there wasn't even a thermostat ( at least not that they could find ). The house was always comfortable, no matter what the weather was like outside. The damn thing could even tell what state of undress his parents were in, and would adjust the heat accordingly. ( "They still hadn't figured out how THAT happened, though Joe had his suspicions!" )! After some time, the novelty began to wear off & Joe began to hear complaints from his parents, as well as others who had ignorantly taken the way of convenience. Things like the heat would not come on when they thought it should, or the smart refrigerator would overstock on certain food items & neglect to order others. The crazy thing would even automatically lock after a certain hour: no more midnight snacks! That was just inside the House!

Joe's parents were not the only ones experiencing problems like this either; reports were streaming in from all over about self-driving vehicles being involved in what could only be described as "road rage" incidents! Speaking of traffic issues, the stop lights were acting very erratically, with almost no discernible pattern, except that they seemed to be favoring the self-driving vehicles! This by itself, as you can well imagine, caused more than a few incidences of road rage; a 'road rash' of biblical proportions, you might say! Of course, by this time, only EVs were allowed on the road, the Central Government Entity, henceforth referred to as the CGE, having outlawed any thing that might create more of an ecological or atmospherical footprint than a toothbrush! Never mind the fact that the energy employed to both manufacture & power these 'green' vehicles produced more pollution than all the internal combustion engines in the world in any given year from the 1940s on! Joe, like so many before him, had learned early on that this was a very inconvenient Truth & anyone who even insinuated anything close to it risked disappearing in the middle of the night! As the case may be, though the overwhelming majority of vehicles on the road were autonomous, there were still a few older EVs out there that were still controlled by humans. Unfortunately, even these were ultimately susceptible to tracking & control by the CGE, although a certain rebellious faction was reportedly 'hacking' some old Teslas so that they could neither be controlled nor tracked!

The fact that there was much more going on 'behind the scenes' than simply trying to cut down on 'greenhouse gases' had been cleverly hidden from most citizens of what had formerly been called 'The United States of America'! Global Warming was only the beginning: dairies had gone the way of the internal combustion engine. Cows were only a distant memory, much like the dinosaurs. In fact, one could earn a pretty penny selling old cow bones on the black market! Milk was now produced in laboratories, much as meat had been for years. One could still go to a restaurant & order a big juicy steak, a hamburger, shrimp, lobster, or even calamari & all the different kinds of fish, but it was all lab-grown! It all tasted like it should, but it all had the same base, just produced differently in order to present the desired consistency, with flavorings added to perfect the illusion. As with the vehicles though, there was still the rebellious faction that had their own cow, even some with chickens, if you can believe it! Of course, those few that dared thumb their noses at the CGE risked life in prison ( at the very least ), or even death ( at the worst )! 

"The year 2238 may seem like a long time from the present day, but quite seriously, it may not be as far off as we would like to think! Joe Campanelli, the protagonist of this short story, had foreseen the scenario unraveling for a long time. Taking into account the giant leaps that Technology was making possible, along with the terrifying depths of the depravity that humanity was capable of, our hero knew that, with the way things were progressing ( one might more correctly say, "regressing", but I digress.........), such a scenario was very likely to play out in the future! Obviously, since we see the validity, or at least the possibility in much of what I've fictionally described above, our future, at least here in the good ole U. S. of A. may not look too different, but really, it is ultimately up to us! When I say, "It's up to us", I'm speaking in a collective sense, as in, "It's up to Humanity!"

"The Ocean is made up of individual drops of water!" Looking at it from our individualistic point of view, as we've been programmed to do; it may seem an almost insurmountable task, changing such a terrifying future, but it DOES start with the Individual, with You & Me! Like the rebel factions described earlier, when we take back control of our own lives, however inconsequential our actions might seem at the time, we begin to forge our own Destiny! The more that people do this, however quietly, the easier it will be to avoid the impending doom that Joe foresaw! 

Our Future looks bleak; there's no denying that! "As above, so below"; if things keep going the way they're going, the Future may not look all that different from what I've described. In fact, in certain areas, it may be be dead on, but that doesn't mean that it's set in stone! Things can change for the better, but only if we MAKE them change! Speaking collectively here, I'm reminded of a certain song by an artist who passed from this life a while back. His song, 'Man in the Mirror', stresses the importance of beginning with ourselves, of BEING the change we want to see in the world!

The Future that Joe had foreseen never happened! The small pockets of Rebellion grew into larger pockets, which grew even more substantially & once the people began to take their Power back, realizing they COULD indeed forge their OWN Destiny, thing started to change. Of course, at first, things got worse before they got better! For instance, because of the larger ecological & meteorological footprint caused by the overwhelming use of EV technology, the so-called 'Global Warming' actually got worse! While those who KNEW knew that it couldn't ALL be blamed on 'greenhouse gasses', that it was simply Mother Nature's cyclical................well, nature. the weather patterns continue to disrupt what might be called "the Norm"! Because of all this, of course, it seemed to the average "Joe" that the Machines were indeed winning!

The weather wasn't the only thing going 'wonky'; even the 'Powers that be' figured out ( after a LONG while ) that EVs weren't all they were cracked up to be! After many issues with batteries exploding, causing fires, crashes & other fatal events, most people were ready to abandon the program entirely! Not only were they having trouble with the vehicles themselves, but the whole infrastructure began to crumble! Speaking of the Weather, however; through many complaints & much private ( Individual ) campaigning, the Government was forced to acknowledge that, indeed, all the power plants, not to mention the Raping of Our Beloved Mother Earth, were actually more detrimental to the planet's well-being than the internal combustion engine. Of course, the Cause was helped immensely by the People themselves becoming more Aware, not just of the fact that they themselves were complicit in the rape of our Mother Earth, but a growing Empathy for our Mother & all Her creatures, including other human beings. The Electric Vehicle Program was not entirely abandoned, of course, as the notion DID have its merits,  but alternate avenues, not just for harnessing power, but for storing that power were explored. Scientists found, for instance, that natural crystals could store more than just digital information; they were also good for harnessing & storing the Power of the Sun! Wind power was still used to some extent, but was finally largely abandoned as the overwhelming majority of Wind Turbines, again, relied heavily on the Rape of Mother Earth!

All was still not as it should be ( 'Or WAS it?!" ), but things were definitely looking 'Up'! The Government was beginning to back down, begrudgingly admitting that they were simply representatives of the People, that the People ultimately knew what was best for our fledgling nation & speaking of the People, both collectively & individually, thanks to a growing Awareness, a Maturity, one might say; not only did they begin to take responsibility for their own lives, but their choices were reflected in their representatives. Talk about "Draining the Swamp"; Washington, D.C. was still inhabited by quite a few human animals, but it was allowed to return, to a large extent, to its former condition & became, for most intents & purposes, a Wildlife Refuge ( "Of course, some would probably argue that it always HAD been!" )! Though there were still Representatives that exercised some Power, they now understood that it was only THROUGH the People that they were able to grasp it! A new & better Constitution was ordained, as it arguably had been from the beginning, a Living Document, written on the Hearts & Minds of the People!

Personal ResponsAbility had made a comeback ( "No, not FULLY yet, but It was well on Its way )! People understood finally that the Conveniences, rather than making Life easier & better, were killing us! That with Freedom comes Responsibility; ergo, no responsibility, no freedom: once we figured THAT out, that was all she wrote for any centralized government entity. "Oh, don't get me wrong, we still had our conveniences ( it wasn't "back to the Stone Age", or anything ), though we DID learn not to rely on them so much. All the smartphones & computers were still in use; they DO have their uses after all, but there was no substitute anymore for face to face interaction. People still worked their '9 to 5's; the lights had to be kept on, the infrastructure that was already in place ( "not ALL bad!" ) needed constant attention & the nation as a whole still had issues that required solutions. Without the centralized government, though, the individual states were able to shoulder the responsibility for themselves. Of course, thanks to the Last Great Awakening, even the state governments were functioning at a bare minimum, with as few as one representative for any given county!

Life was by no means easy, but it was SO much better! The Air was cleaner, the Earth was much more receptive, the Water flowed more freely & Fire was finally recognized & respected for the True Friend that it is! Spirit had Its way with the People & all was at Rest! Again, this does not mean there were no issues, no problems to solve; human beings were still human beings, with all their glorious differences. There were still clashes here & there, now & again, but for the most part, they never went beyond the individuals involved, whether it was a fender bender, or something more serious. Accidents still happened, though 'Natural Disasters' were pretty much a thing of the past, since Mother Nature was much happier with Her People, the overwhelming majority having learned a much greater respect for Her & Her Laws. 

From beginning to end, the short story you've just read is a work of almost pure fiction, but it could easily become Reality! The Choice, as always, is YOURS ( OURS )! What WILL we choose, I wonder?!

Namaste' & Blessed Be,

Sage Charles

 

How to be a Bear

Etienne didn't know why, but he LOVED bears! For some reason, bears had always held some sort of fascination for him. He liked brown ones, black ones, red ones & white ones, but especially grizzlies. Etienne had learned early in Life that bears were dangerous ( "Watch out, boy, they'll eat you up!" ), so at first, just like most, he accepted the fact that they were uncontrollable, wild animals that would rather swipe your head, or some OTHER body part, clean off with one massive paw, than allow you to peacefully coexist with them! "Bears", he had been taught, "are killing machines that are out to kill humans; end of story: THEY are the Enemy!" ( "Of course, the same could be said of Wolves, or most any other 'wild' animal', but perhaps that's another Story for another day" )

Listening to the farmers & rancher that surrounded him on all sides, Etienne heard, almost every day, "They're killing our livestock, they need to be killed!" Things like that made the hackles rise up on his neck! They made his blood boil! "THEY were here first", he would say "WE are encroaching on THEIR territory!" He was right, but his remonstrations fell on deaf ears. For the most part, he was largely ignored, though some of those he protested to took it under consideration & sought more 'humane' ways to solve their problem, like live-trapping & re-locating, which was, admittedly, better than the first option. ( For people like the American Indian, though, this might bring sad memories to surface, for if they had been treated AS humanely..........; but then, that is perhaps another Story............. ) As the case may be, however; though Wildlife was removed ( forcefully ) from their natural habitat, at least they weren't being hunted & killed "A step in the right direction?!"

Etienne didn't know it, but he was a 'bear'; had ALWAYS been, in fact! No, not physically, but spiritually. From early on, he had been domesticated, much as other forms of 'wildlife' ( speaking of Wolves ). In fact, though the process was similar, it wasn't that he was removed to a 'safer' place, at least not physically; it was a spiritual process, a learning process, like, "bears are dangerous; they'll kill you as soon as look at you!" Bears ARE dangerous ( he KNEW that ), just like any other animal, including the human animal, when they're threatened! "Are they to be feared?" 'Respected'  is a better word. But yes, one needs to respect them, not only for their amazing strength & razor sharp claws, but for the fact that they have just as much right as we do, arguably even more, to exist & subsist in their natural habitat!

Etienne learned from an early age that if he wanted to live in this human world, there were certain rules he needed to follow; his wildness had to go: he had to be a good little boy, follow the rules, all the while learning that, "bears are dangerous": learning as well to fear ( "respect"? ) them, possibly even to hunt & kill them, just for being who & what they ARE!

Bears, as all wildlife does, deserve our respect, not just BECAUSE they were here first, but because they're more like us than most people would like to think! Sure; we're human & they're JUST animals, but they just want to exist & subsist. But, just like humanity, when another group of animals treads on what they see as their 'rights', they'll take action to right those wrongs, even if that means eradicating the perceived wrongdoer ( "sound familiar?!" )!

Etienne knew all this & more! He KNEW that bears are our brothers & sisters, our fathers & mothers! We could learn a lot from bears, as from all wildlife, if only we could forget our fear. Yes, we should maintain a very healthy respect for them, just as we should maintain a healthy respect for our fellow human beings. Watch out for those razor sharp claws, yes, but keep in mind that most human beings also have that, or worse! 

"Why do we kill bears?" This is an honest question, but I have an answer I'll proffer: we ( human beings ) kill bears for much the same reason as they kill us because they feel threatened! The only difference between our killing & their killing is that, more often than not, we're doing it for all the wrong reasons; "sport" being the most obvious. To be fair, not all hunters are out there for the fun of it; they're just looking to feed their families ( "Wait, that sounds familiar; ALMOST human!" ). Either that, or they're just protecting their families ( property, livestock, etc. ) . But wait; isn't THAT what we humans do?! If we kill a deer, elk, or bear to fill our freezer, we're only exercising our right to feed our family ( as long as we acquire the appropriate licensure, of course, but maybe THAT'S another Story for another day ), but when a bear kills to feed their family, well, "they're killing OUR livestock". ( "This is not, of course, to say that human beings ( farmers & ranchers ) DO NOT have a right to prevent bears or wolves from killing their livestock, but these human beings must realize that the bears, wolves, etc., are only doing what they themselves would do under similar conditions! But; I digress............

Etienne KNOWS that Brother Bear is NOT the Enemy! He KNOWS  that Brother Wolf is not the Enemy! No form of Wildlife, for that matter is. For a clear view of the Enemy, Etienne KNEW, all we as human beings need to do is look in the mirror. Bears, Wolves, or any other form of Wildlife are not the ones out there hunting for sport! ( "I mean, seriously, how many animal dens have you seen that sport human heads as trophies? ) Of course, just like the human animal, there probably IS the occasional renegade ( animals have emotions too, right? ), but that is really neither here nor there!

Bears, Wolves & other forms of Wildfire held no fear for Etienne; rather, he DID respect them! They have the same rights as we do, they exist & subsist just like we do & they kill & eat, just like we do. In fact, they understand the Circle of Life BETTER than most human beings, because THEY were not taught that Life is linear: they KNOW by nature that Life is circular in nature; Death for one, plant OR animal, means Life for another. Just like the human animal, the wild ones feel pain at the death of another, even though they know that it's only a part of the circle of life. Most humans, for whatever reason, do not look at Life & Death in this manner, but then, that Story's ALREADY been told, hasn't it?

Namaste' & Blessed Be!

Sage Charles

The Eternal Self ( the Unconditioned 'Eye' )

For quite a few years now, I've been saying things like, "We see best in others what we despise in ourselves!" This of course, works obversely as well, in, "We see best in others what we love in ourselves." Now, with that said, it's not that everything, even the smallest little foible, that we take note of in other people is something that is existent within our own persona, but this is most often the case, sad to say. "Sad", yes; though nothing to be sad about: there is no shame here! It is simply a matter of fact: we are mirrors & when we see something in another person that we either love or hate; most often, sooner or later, we will be forced to take stock of our own Self & realize, "Oh, wait; that's ME!"

Whether they realize it or not, the overwhelming majority of people out there, that is, who identify with their persona, are on an eternal quest; the search for that most elusive of Gifts, 'Unconditional Love'! Again, "Overwhelmingly", if not totally, the 'love' that we bear witness to on this material plane is a conditional love. "If you do what I want/like, I'll love you", is one example. Another example, speaking of unconditional love, goes something like this, "the love of animals, dogs in particular, may be the clearest example of unconditional love that we, as human beings will experience in this lifetime, on this earthly plane of existence!" That's not quite true, however; the love that We have for Ourselves, in fact, the Love that we are ( for that IS our True, Divine Nature ) is unconditional!

Now, with that said, please realize that this a Spiritual Truth: it is only from a spiritual vantage point that one may realize, much less understand this! Speaking of dogs, for instance, we might find that, if we don't treat our animals with the respect they deserve, such as not feeding them with any regularity, leaving them outside on a chain, even when it's freezing, or even beating them when they don't act like we want, they will not give us the loyalty we wish to see. The same holds true of the human animal as well! 'Unconditional Love'? Hardly! Now, this, you understand, is not to say that any rational human being would act in this way toward ANY animal, human OR otherwise & not expect to get the same in return, though there DOES seem to be a shortage of sane, rational people in this day & age, especially! No, this is merely to say, echoing the Beatles, "the love you get is equal to the love you give"; in other words, "if you don't show it, you don't see it!", though this is not quite true either! For instance, ANY animal, human or otherwise, may choose to show the love in their hearts, even if you don't. On the other hand, showing/proving the love that is in YOUR heart may end up being the only love that you see!

Which brings me to my point: "If you wish to witness/experience Unconditional Love in this human existence, you must realize that Love in yourself!" To an extent, you may experience a form of Unconditional Love from another human, a baby, for instance, but as the child grows, the love he or she exhibits, or even feels, may wax or wane, depending of course, on the person. Much in the same sense, the Love you show yourself, Unconditional though it may be, may look different by the hour, or even the minute. The difference is, you will always be with yourself! 

Most people spend their lives searching, in vain it would seem, for True Love, or in other words, that elusive Unconditional Love we hear so much about. Growing up Christian, as I and so many others have, 'Unconditional Love' is a very familiar phrase, in particular referring to the Unconditional Love of 'God'. This Love, as I understand it, means that 'God' loves ALL 'His children, even if they reject 'Him' & live a life that is not in accordance with 'His' dictates. Of course, this kind of belief flies in the face of everything that Christianity teaches! The brand of Christianity that, again, I & so many others were raised in, with all its dogma, was that the love of 'God', while unconditional, is only for 'His' children, and if you do not repent of your sins & live in accordance with 'His' laws, or rather, their interpretation of said laws ( dogma ), then you cannot be a 'child of God'!

The above statement, while maybe slightly differently worded than most such explanations, is blatantly nonsensical! Rather than being an unconditional love; 'as above, so below', it is conditional. It is clearly based on the fact that, as 'His' children, we receive all that we need from 'His' mighty Hand, if only we prayerfully ask. Okay, okay, 'He' understands our weaknesses; if we miss a prayer now & then, or our heart just ain't in it, we usually end up with what we need anyway; which brings me to my next point.........we are 'God'!

Now, before you hang me up by my toenails & light me on fire; hear me out! I say "we are God" kinda tongue in cheek. We are most definitely NOT the biblical god, though he DOES seem strangely human! No, I say "we are God", because for all material intents & purposes, we are! Now, when it comes to our True Nature, it can be rightly said that "we are God" as well because, though I will acknowledge that there is Something greater than us ( while at the same time there is Nothing greater than us ), we are part & parcel with that Greatness which is at the same time Something & Nothing!

Even in a purely human sense, then, it can be rightly said that "we are God" because we & we alone direct the courses of our lives! Quite a statement, many would say: "quite untrue", most would say as well, but check this out! It is our personal choices that determine how we live our lives. "But, bro; what about all the things that HAPPEN to us, things that others do to us, over which we have no control?!" To this I say, "We STILL have a choice as to how we respond to their actions!" Do we not, though? Sure, what they do to us may have a life-long effect on us, for example, they shot us in the back, severing our spinal cord, leaving us a paraplegic ( at best )! However, our response is OUR choice; we could give up on life, becoming bitter & disillusioned ( "people DO suck" ), or we could choose, like some, to employ our brilliant mind & light out on a different path than we had thought we were destined for! Now, if that ain't God, I don't know what is!

"Unconditional Love", it would seem by its very terminology ( etymologically speaking ) means 'love without condition', correct?! Well, for the most part, the Love we bear witness to on this earthly pane is sadly conditional! Again, 'as above, so below'; if we do not offer the required care ( whatever that looks like ), there is a good chance we will not see that love/care in return. However, this is not to say that even if we don't show love to any given individual, be it animal or human, that the individual will not show love to us, for we must remember that they too are God; they may choose to show Love, even though we do not! "Why?" you may be wondering; "Why would ANYONE choose to love you when you clearly don't love them?" That, my friend, is where we brush up against the Truth!

Anybody that has read my blog for the last several years is probably familiar with my claim ( "I know I'm not the only one, either" ), that "We ARE Love!" Yes, not only are we God, but just like the biblical 'God', we are Love! "How is that?" you may ask. Well, to tell you the Truth, I might hafta get back to you on that, but for now, suffice it to say that Love really IS what makes the World go 'round! Call it Gravity, call it simply Energy, it is at the very root of everything that exists! It is what keeps the stars & planets in the heavens; it is what keeps us firmly rooted to the earth!

Of course,"as above, so below" is to be understood in the physical, or material sense here, since, for one thing, "stardust runs in our veins"; in essence, we are made of the same 'stuff' as the stars ( in a very technical sense; "Energy" ). Energy/Gravity/Love is the invisible Force that keeps the stars & planets spinning in their orbits: this is also what anchors these material bodies to our Mother, the Earth. ( "Speaking of Unconditional Love........" ). However, this is not to say that this blessed phrase may ONLY be understood in the material sense, for in the sense of the individual spirit ( 'Self' ), it should be understood that, as goes our 'Self', so goes our biological body. The 'Self" is where the Power of Choice lies!

So we come, finally, full circle, as it were, to 'The Mirror'! We see our 'Self' in the Other. Perhaps this is what the Guru means when She or He says "there IS no Other", for we ARE, when it comes down to it, all One; we are Energy, we are Love! Much as we try to vaunt ( vindicate? ) our own individuality, we truly are no different from the next person. Well, except maybe, for Forrest Gump; he was, well..."different!"

Namaste & Blessed Be

Sage Charles

Music From Another Room

"What if I told you that our dreams are actually glimpses, however vivid or hazy, into another Reality, a different Dimension, if you will?!"

Ambiguous at best, sometimes the dreams that we experience, usually at night, though many have been accused of day-dreaming, seem to be the manifestation of our wildest fantasies. However, certain of our dreams are so vivid that, when we wake up, it seems that what occurred in our dream state must have transpired in 'real life'. One can only imagine our surprise when the events that we witnessed while we were sleeping never actually happened. Or did they?!

Although the existence of dimensions other than the three that can be observed with the naked eye ( length, width, depth ) has not been scientifically been proven ( yet ), it is theorized by some scientists that a 4th dimension, that of Time, must exist as well. The possibilities of other dimensions, like the 5th, even up to the 11th & beyond ( Infinity? ) have found their way into the theoretical multiverse. Speaking of the Multiverse, a popular phrase, in other words, maybe, is "the Universe is in YOU". Another way to say this might be the even more popular phrase, "As Above, So Below". So then, the existence of the Multiverse, as each one is individually a separate Universe. But then, of course; so goes the theory: it's really all just speculation, right?!

If indeed the things that we hear that others don't ( not to mention what certain animals seem to hear or see that the ordinary human doesn't ) are simply happening in another dimension, then a big can of worms could theoretically be opened! What certain people, like Dr. Joe, for instance, speculate about, such as that past & future do not exist, but are all are occurring now, in the present moment begins to make some sort of convoluted sense. One might begin to wonder then, if the past they are remembering is truly their past, or if it is simply a present moment they are experiencing in another dimension, or even a parallel universe ( in the Multiverse ). Are our visions ( dreams? ) of some more or less distant future simply a glimpse of what is presently occurring to another version of ourselves?! It's really enough to blow one's mind!

Sometimes, unfortunately, dreams come in the form of nightmares ( I say "unfortunately", though that is a matter of perspective ). Say, for instance, that someone is engaged in 'Shadow Work', in essence, revisiting their trauma from what is commonly called 'the past', or 'facing their demons'. "As above, so below"; such a dream, or nightmare, may simply be indicative of what is currently transpiring in another dimension, or parallel universe, if you will. In the greatest sense, this is itself speculation, though from the perspective of this blogger, such a concept makes sense, convoluted though it may be!

"What is the point", one might well ask, "of all this ridiculous talk about other dimensions, not to mention the notion that Time is an Illusion, that past, present and future are occurring at the same time?" Great question; "What indeed?!" Well, first of all, we have born witness to the cyclical nature ( as opposed to 'linear' ) of what is popularly called 'Time'.  Take, for example, History itself: although one may well note a sort of 'natural progression' in the world, can we really call it 'Progress'?! Is it progress that humanity has not learned from what we usually call 'the past'? Is it progress that we keep making the same mistakes, yet expecting different results? We have been taught to look at Life itself as progressive, but is it really? There is birth & there is death, right? Well, yes, but is death actually the end of life? Is birth the beginning? In a merely personal sense, yes, it could well be said that birth is the beginning & death the end, but in the spiritual sense, the energetic sense, you might say, Life goes on; the Spirit ( some call it 'the Soul' ) does not die, nor does it have a beginning. 

Right now, you may be wondering, "Is this guy right in the head?" "So Time is cyclical, not linear: is that supposed to prove the existence of other dimensions, that Time itself is an Illusion, or that past, present & future are occurring simultaneously?!" "For that matter, by saying that "Time is an Illusion", aren't you acknowledging the existence of Time?" 

Actually, I never said that Time doesn't exist; I simply said that It is an Illusion! "What's the difference?" you might well be thinking! Well, the difference is perceptual: Let me ask you a very familiar question, one you've probably heard before; "If a tree falls in the middle of a forest & there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?" The point is, Time DOES exist because everyone acknowledges its existence, in fact, people have witnessed Its march from time immemorial! For much the same reason, we can say that It is an Illusion, one that has been accepted as Real by the overwhelming majority, if not everyone, again, "from time immemorial"! "But, "an Illusion"? 

"Illusion"? What is an illusion? A very apt definition from the Oxford Languages dictionary reads thusly, "a thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses." There are doubtless other definitions, even more more apt, maybe, but this will suffice. According to this definition, an illusion is a thing, therefore NOT non-existent. 

"Okay, so what's all this about other dimensions then?" Hmmmmm; "other dimensions". By this very question, wouldn't you yourself be acknowledging that this is a dimension, if not by extension that it MIGHT be merely one among many?! In my limited understanding, a dimension describes a plane, whether physical ( tangible ) or spiritual/mental ( intangible ). Not being a Scientist, per se; I might describe a cube as having the dimensions of height, width & depth. This is popularly known as '3D'. For universal purposes, we might add a fourth dimension, 'Time' & call it '4D'. In this New Age of which we are on the verge, many are using the term '5D'. This terminology of the Fifth Dimension is really nothing new, having  been bandied around for the past few decades. Another phrase for this New Era is 'The Age of Aquarius'. As the case may be, however, a 5D reality may be exactly what we're looking at when it comes  to "other dimensions".

I saw a meme the other day that really resonated with me: something to the effect of "we no longer live in the material age; now we live in the Age of Energy'. This, of course must be perceptual as well, for in the greatest sense, it could well be said that we've always lived in the Age of Energy! However, back to the message of the meme in question; up until now, the overwhelming majority of our world has had ( still has? ) a focus on the physical. What I mean by that, at least in this context, is that we have been taught to identify with our physicality, that the physical aspects ( attributes? ) of this life are what's real, when in Reality, it is the spiritual nature of Life, that which drives the physical, that is of greatest import!

So we come to what is known as the 5th Dimension. "As above, so below"; to the four 'dimensions' already named, we might add a 5th, that of 'Spirit', or 'Energy'. In the greatest sense, 'dimensions' could be added, to Infinity. Seriously though, that is as it should be, or rather, will be! 

You've probably heard of the 'Expanding Universe' theory: some of my readers might remember this, but several years ago I wrote a blogpost on this subject. My thesis was that it is not the universe that is expanding, but rather our understanding of it. The same is true of 'dimensions'; it's just that we have become/are becoming aware of their existence. With the opening of the 'third eye' & other spiritual senses, it is now possible to 'see' into those other dimensions. 

With the naked eye ( vision ), and the aid of our biological body's greatest organ ( touch ), we can observe objects in 3D, or in the third dimension. Theoretically, within this illusion we call 'Time, we may, more or less, correctly say that we live/exist in the fourth dimension, or in a 4D Universe. However, gaining popularity with the idea that we are spiritual beings inhabiting physical bodies, is the existence of this 5th Dimension, the Dimension of Spirit. In a related note, one might refer to the 1997 film, 'The 5th Element', as playing with a similar concept. 

The existence of Time is a proven fact! History should be enough to tell us that, right?! For example, from my own Christian education, I can tell you that the Jewish Temple was destroyed in A.D.70 because the Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote an eyewitness account. For that matter, referring to my own past, I could point out the fact that I received a 'Christian education'. '

"How could you say that Time is an illusion, then, since you acknowledge that these things transpired in the past?!" one might well ask! Memories are a strange thing! An example from my youth should suffice here: I remember at least two memories from my childhood that my siblings, upon hearing them, have told me that they never happened. Now, I ask you, "was I simply dreaming ( remembering something that NEVER happened ) , or was I actually seeing into another dimension ( one they couldn't 'see' )?" In other words, "in my 'memories' of these events, am I actually recalling events that transpired in the past, or was I observing them as they occurred in real time?" 

Admittedly, phrases such as the one used earlier, "The Universe is in YOU!" should not be taken literally! Although the organs of our physical body could almost be likened to the complex arrangement of the planets & stars, one could never truly say that the Universe is literally mirrored in our body. I have heard recently ( my readers may have heard this as well ) that the elements that make up our physical bodies came straight from what we usually call 'outer space', so this could offer an explanation of this enigmatic phrase. The phrase, "As above, so below" lends a bit more light to the subject: Again, speaking of physicality, we might look at Astrology, in its several aspects. Ruling planets, star signs, etc, all seem to have an effect on our lives. Humanly speaking, we must remember that, even though it is written in the stars, so to speak, we still have free will; it is our choice as to whether we simply follow that destiny, or whether we carve out our own destiny!

However, it might be noted that there is a bit more to this familiar phrase: "As above, so below" means that, as spiritual beings, we are one with the Universe ( 'God', Source, etc. ) & so, as the Spirit moves, do we manifest in our physicality, given, of course, that we are in flow with both the Universe & our own Divinity. At this point enters another phrase, "You ARE the Universe!" In a certain sense, this might simply refer to the fact that as part & parcel WITH the Universe ( an integral one, at that, we are, In Essence, the Universe itself; however, "as above, so below"; perceiving ourselves as the Universe we are helps us understand that we each, again, in essence, form our very own universe! 

Each of us, through our Power of Choice, carves out our own Destiny! In other words, we shape our Universe through our choices, manifesting our own destiny as we consciously will it. Coming full circle, then, we are back to the Multiverse, with Infinite possibilities and multiple realities/dimensions. The overwhelming majority

 of us, have been taught, usually from day one, that Reality, like so many other concepts in the world at large, is Absolute. According to this theory, in other words, there is ONE Reality; all else is unreal or illusion. This is most often applied to things like Truth, 'sin', etc. However, what may be Real or True in our universe/world may not be true or real in another's! 

At this point, some may be wondering then, "Is there room for Absolute Truth, Absolute Reality?!" Funny you should ask, because the whole premise seems to rest in the existence of 'God', or One Absolute & Supreme Being. Questions like this MUST ultimately come down to this premise; "Does this One Ultimate & Supreme Being truly exist, or is 'He'/ 'She'/ 'It' really 'US'?!

We Are the 'God' of our Universe/world! We may not be in control of every single thing ( event ) that occurs in our little world, but we CAN control how react to those events. Better yet, we can choose ACT, to exercise our conscious Will  ( "Now THAT'S a 'Preemptive Strike'!" ) in manifesting Love, first in our World/Universe, then in the Multiverse at large!

I began this somewhat lengthier than usual post about a week or so ago, but did I really?! My Mind, with its finite memory, tells me I did, but am I simply hearing music from another room? Did I actually start this post in another dimension, only to finish it in this one? The Infinite possibilities are enough to blow our finite minds! Good thing we are More than our finite mind! We may be hearing from/seeing into a different dimension, but since we are Infinite Beings having a finite experience, it not only doesn't blow our minds, it serves to further open our minds & to think outside the box. 

"Does it really matter, in the Grand Scheme of things, that Time is an Illusion?" What difference does it really make that our dreams are really glimpses into another dimension? This, of course is assuming that there ARE other dimensions! Is it possible that Past, Present & Future are occurring simultaneously, just in different dimensions? To our finite Minds, so fucked up from years of programming, it's difficult to admit the possibility, much less wrap our poor little heads around how it MIGHT be possible! But again, "does it really matter?" My readers will have to answer THAT question for themselves, but I'm pretty sure that YOU already know! Happy dreaming/remote viewing!

Namaste' & Blessed Be

Sage Charles

Dancing With The Devil

"So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire [ is ] for you, but you should rule over it.”

 - Genesis 4:6 & 7 (NKJV )

I had a conversation with a friend the other day about the Ego. My interpretation of the latter half of the quote above runs like this: "you have a choice; you can let your Ego determine your course of action ( "rule over you" ), or you can rule over it!" In other words, Cain could go with his natural inclinations, which was to allow his jealousy to become murderous hatred, or he could let Love rule & overrule the judgement his emotions had made. We know, from reading the rest of the account, what Cain decided to do with his god-like power! 

The Ego, as we've discussed previously, is neither 'good' nor 'bad'; "it is what it is', to use a fairly modern & well-worn phrase! It IS, in fact, I explained, one of those 'constituent elements' necessary to our normal everyday operation as human beings. One might note that the Ego, as in Cain's case above, is our ability to make choices, to decide whether to do this or that, one thing or the other. "As above, so below"; It is what makes us the 'gods' that we are! 

More on that outrageous ( some might say 'blasphemous' ) statement later; for now, let's discuss the title of this blogpost, 'Dancing With the Devil'. Before we begin though, let me first of all, assure my readers that I'm NOT, in any way, making reference to the biblical 'Satan'! I MUST say, however, that the subject I'm broaching here IS related to the notion of 'the Adversary' or devil ( serpent ) that we encounter in the Hebrew & Greek Scriptures! While the 'serpent', in the Garden ( Genesis 3 ) & elsewhere, may have had a primarily Jewish referent, ideologically speaking, the notion that we are our own worst enemies makes this biblical figure very relatable.

It, speaking of the Ego, though neither good nor bad, DOES have a tendency toward the instinctual, or the Animal! Our human nature, as opposed to our Divine Nature, is the Seat of the Ego. As far as choice goes, it could be said; "it is only in our humanity that we have a choice"! This may open another can of worms, but as Divine Beings, do we really have a choice to do right or wrong, to be good or evil? Some might ask, though, "What about evil spirits? Surely they exist!" That is surely worth pondering, right?! "Is it though?" The Nature of this Beast is that, no matter what one calls them, there are definitely malevolent 'spirits' out there! Then again, are 'they' actually 'spirits', or are we simply witnessing the manifestation of an Ego gone wrong. Aside from Relativity, there IS what's right & what's wrong; a Universal Principle, you might say!

The "Ego gone wrong" refers to the biblical example given earlier, of Cain & Abel. Cain murdered his brother because he allowed his Ego to get the better of him! As the Ego is a manifestation of the Mind, or brain, it is ultimately controlled ( "ruled" ) either by our Higher or lower Self. Obviously, Cain chose the easy way out & so allowed his jealousy to become hatred. However, had he trusted his Higher Self, Abel might still be with us today! No, not really...................but then..............

Being "a constituent element of our humanity", the Ego serves the purpose of giving us our individual personality: it serves us well in this respect, fitting us with the necessary accouterments of things such as likes & dislikes, even, to some extent, connecting with our Higher Selves, though we may not be aware, discerning between right & wrong, good & evil.  Without the Ego, it would be difficult, if not impossible to, as they say, 'make it' in the business world, especially today's! This is not to say that, in order to operate in today's world, business or otherwise, one must allow their Ego to 'take the reins', so to speak, just that one MUST employ their Persona in this Illusion we call Life!

As discussed in a previous post, one MUST face their Darkness in order to heal; in much the same way, the Ego has a dark side, as we saw with the example of Cain & Abel. This is not to say that just because Cain elected to let his Ego push him to murder, we should embrace that natural desire & follow through on our feelings of hatred. Rather, through the Lens of Love ( our Higher Self ) we can instead, embrace those feelings & transmute them into actions of love rather than the destructive force of hate, or fear. Just because our Ego engenders a feeling of jealousy within us, our response doesn't need to be instinctual, as Cain's, but rather, if we rely on our Higher Self, or Divine Nature, then Love will rule the day & our actions will be nothing but good, just & right!

In 'Dancing With the Devil' then, we must exercise great care that, in embracing our Darkness,we do not become so attached to It that we allow It to control us! 'As Above, so Below'; when we look to the Divinity Within to color our actions, we can be assured that we are acting from a place of Love. However, we must remember, in the midst of all this pondering, that the Ego is not Itself an Evil! It is an Emotion ( for lack of a more concise term ) & as such is subject to our feelings, which again, are linked directly ( irreconcilably? ) to our humanity. 

What IS a god/God?! Many people flinch at the notion that we are gods, though they might grudgingly acknowledge that we are, in a very limited sense, 'small 'g' gods', but definitely NOT capital, or 'big 'G' Gods ( "there is ONLY ONE true God!" )! A God/god, in my limited understanding, is simply 'a mighty one'. Another well-accepted definition of a god/God is that it is a Divine Being. Again, while most would admit the fact that we all have that 'Spark of Divinity', the overwhelming majority of religious people seem to be of the opinion that we are primarily, if not wholly, human beings. ( Therein lies the problem! ) Since, then, we are 'spiritual (Divine? ) Beings having a human ( physical? ) experience', it should not be hard to accept the fact that we are gods, whether one uses the lower or uppercase 'G'! 

Given, then, that we ARE Gods with the power, not only to choose, but through those choices to create the life we want, we really have no one but ourselves to blame if we're not living the life we want! Most would immediately object to this line of reasoning, bringing up such factors as things that just seem to happen to us, or that it's genetic ( we're predisposed to it ); some even blame their environment! No wonder most religious people want to let 'God' or 'the Devil' shoulder the blame for everything that happens to them, whether good or bad! However, "the Winds of Change, they are a'blowin"; those who know call it 'The Shift' ( I call It 'The Fuckening' ) & indeed a Shift It is, a shift in consciousness. More & more people are realizing the Truth about Who & What We really are, whether they are awaking from a religious stupor, or whether they were fortunate to be brought up in a non-religious household! As it is, this Shift has many painful, though glorious aspects. Some will doubtless, at first anyway, decide that it's TOO painful, so, for those of us with the courage to persevere, we must remember in treating with them, that we too were once in their shoes. By transmuting our own Darkness & BEING the Light-Bearers we are, we may be assured that we are planting the Seeds that will lead to THE Great Awakening!

Namaste' & Blessed Be!

Sage Charles