Come Again? The Question of Karma and Reincarnation

When I was in my late twenties I moved from Missouri to Idaho for a year and a half. Why I did so is something of a mystery. Idaho was mentioned in a conversation once with a friend, and while he was speaking, a vivid picture sprang up in my mind, accompanied by a sudden longing to go there. I'd recently spent time in Colorado and felt drawn to the mountains again. But why Idaho? All I know is the strange longing stayed with me, and about a year later, I packed up a few possessions in my old white Chevy and drove west to Boise.

I found a room to rent in a cheap apartment near Boise State University with 2 other girls for roommates, and immediately started looking for work, since my meager savings wouldn't last long. Every day I scanned the help wanted ads, made phone calls, drove downtown, then parked and trudged the streets, filling out applications.

One hot afternoon as I was making my rounds, a young man walking his bike along the sidewalk stopped beside me, introduced himself and asked if I was a student at the university. He was a student himself, and had seen me on several occasions.

I said no, I was looking for work.

"What kind of work do you do?" he wanted to know.

"Well," I said, "I've worked at three different newspapers doing ad layout, but I'll take anything I can get to start."

"Ah," he said, "I think I can help you. Come with me."

He took me to an office building (I've forgotten what kind) that had an index of all the newspapers in Idaho belonging to the Associated Press. He suggested I type up my resume at the school library and send it to any of the newspapers that looked promising. After giving me a few more helpful suggestions, he wished me well and went on his way. I never saw him again. 

A short time later, the Wood River Journal in Hailey, Idaho, a small mountain town near Sun Valley, contacted me, requesting an interview. It was the newspaper I most wanted to work for. Later on the same day, I got a call from the Ore-Ida potato company in Boise, where I'd filled out an application. They needed a layout artist, and I was well qualified for the job. If it hadn't been for the mysterious young man I'm sure Ore-Ida would have hired me. But instead I took the job in Hailey, met wonderful people and had many exciting adventures. So because of a small act of kindness, the young man (I've forgotten his name) altered the course of my life. Who knows what would have happened if I'd stayed in Boise? I still get a shiver up my spine when I think of that encounter, because I'm certain it was not a random happening. The whole Idaho experience from start to finish was packed with significance for me. Something deep in my soul pulled me there, then I was guided to Hailey, where I needed to be. Someday I must thank that young man, one way or another.

We all have life-altering experiences, some of them so brief, so subtle that if we're not paying attention they pass us by like a whisper and disappear. We're mostly taught to view them as coincidence and give them no more thought.

Every tiny thing we do affects the world and us. Once we act, consequences are set in motion. Does it make sense that we would have nothing more to do with our actions, right or wrong? Will they not return to us? Will we not return to finish important work that was interrupted, balance relationships that need healing?

Of course we all err, and forgiveness is a big part of Christian faith. But forgiveness doesn't wipe the slate completely clean. We still need to be allowed to correct our mistakes and show gratitude for gifts given. How can we grow as spiritual beings if we don't have the opportunity to do so on the same playing field as where they originated? Losing that chance would mean losing something very precious.

Order and system rules our world. Genetics determine our physical bodies down to the length of our eyelashes. What, then, determines our soul and spiritual qualities? Surely what we bring with us into life in the form of aptitudes, talents, inclinations, likes and dislikes are due to order and system as well. We don't inherit soul qualities from our ancestors; they belong only to us. A child can begin playing piano at three years of age when none of his family members are musical. Identical twins can have completely different personalities.

Karma is not simply about being punished for bad behavior and rewarded for good. It's about learning to take responsibility for the consequences of our actions. It's about balance. Life always seeks balance, and I believe we play an active role in determining what life experiences will give us the greatest opportunities to bring us ever closer to living in harmony with the true and the good. And meeting misfortune doesn't necessarily mean we've done something bad. Sometimes random happenings occur. Sometimes there is group karma that affects a whole nation, or race, or other groups, large and small. And there is the taking on of karma as a sacrificial gift. Think of what Christ endured for all of us.

If we view our sorrows and struggles as a way to help perfect ourselves, that perhaps we chose these very struggles, it changes everything. Instead of feeling like a helpless victim and sinking under sorrow and resentment, we can feel blessed for the opportunity to grow. How many times have we seen people overcome terrible hardships who say they wouldn't change a thing in their lives because the suffering made them a much better person? Often they are inspired to help others in similar situations.

The bible promises us eternal life. One lifetime is only a tiny blip on the radar when compared to eternity. How will we spend the rest of our existence? Eternity is a very long time! Does it make sense that we're only given one shot?

Many people believe the bible is clear that we only live once on earth, but others interpret the words differently, and many devout Christians embrace the teaching of reincarnation. In any case our beliefs shouldn't prevent us from examining our own lives with an unprejudiced eye, pondering the meanings of important events and searching our souls for deeper understanding of life and death . 

If we settle for blind faith without ever questioning, we never evolve. The world was once believed to be flat. Innocent people were burned at the stake by "Christians" because it was thought they were witches. We've come a long way, but still have a long way to go.

Faith is a powerful, life-sustaining force, and sometimes it's all we have to cling to, but If we are to foster the growth of spiritual truths amidst the ever-rising tide of materialism, then blind faith is not enough. It must be transformed into solid knowledge. Human beings have dormant organs of perception that, when developed, give us as firm a footing in the invisible spiritual world as we have in the physical. Others have achieved this through dedication and hard work, and eventually these abilities will come to all of us. But meantime, anyone with a well-functioning brain, an open mind and a good moral compass can find his or her way to higher knowledge. Studying anthroposophy, esoteric Christianity, sacred geometry, biodynamic agriculture, (even the elements hold profound secrets of creation!), spiritual science can enrich our understanding and appreciation for the bible and its great mysteries, many of which we haven't even begun to comprehend yet.

And we needn't shun materialism. It has it's purpose. It's given us great leaps of knowledge and power in the world. But it needs to be balanced by spiritual wisdom, so the two can work together for the greater good.

Thank you for reading! 

Won't You Guess My Name

Have you ever wondered if Dr. Doolittle's pushmi pullyu had trouble making decisions? It's hard enough to do with one head, let alone two! Plus four legs. How did it decide which direction to go, which head to follow? Either it was a highly advanced creature or it had magical abilities (apparently there was some unicorn blood in its ancestry), otherwise it would've spent all day struggling to get somewhere.

Too bad we humans don't know the pushmi pullyu's secret, because we're all constantly pushed and pulled between two opposing forces in our lives which often cause much chaos. Like it or not, the world's existence depends on the tension between these poles. Look around and you can see it everywhere: expansion and contraction, destruction and creation, waxing and waning.  

Chinese philosophy names these energies yin and yang, neither being good or evil, always seeking to balance each other out.

In Christianity, the poles are seen as two opposing entities, the good being Christ, the evil His adversary, Satan. 

Spiritual science teaches that there are actually two opposing entities that can draw us toward evil, with Christ as the balancing point between them. The names given to these beings are Lucifer and Ahriman.

The name Lucifer means "bearer of light". It was he who tempted Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of knowledge. But with the light of self knowledge and the freedom of choice comes the potential for evil. Lucifer inspires poets, musicians, artists, visionaries. He brings hope. But in excess, his influence leads to fiery passions, inflated ego, hyperactivity, wars and revolutions, fanaticism, superstition. Luciferic illnesses include fevers and inflammation. This entity seeks to lead us away from earth and from Christ to a realm of his own making. He persuades us that we are better than everyone else, that our point of view is obviously so superior we must do anything to defend it. Just think of all the people slaughtered in the name of religion.

Ahriman, also called the lord of darkness, is a lesser known figure to most, but very active in our times. He is Lucifer's opposite. He works through materialism, science and mathematics, knowledge and data devoid of human feeling (artificial intelligence), division, rigidity. He gives us technological advances and cold, clear, logical thinking, but takes away the poetry and beauty of life. Ahrimanic illnesses include sclerosis and calcifications. Ahriman seeks to bind us to the earth, severing our connection with our spiritual home.

So how do we protect ourselves from these two influences? The pushmi pullyu had a clever way of dealing with danger. One head slept while the other stayed alert, watching for predators. But even if we had two heads it wouldn't help much, because our predators attack from within, deep in our subconscious. So our first line of defense is knowledge. When you know your enemies, how they work and what they're capable of, when you can say their names, it gives you power over them. They can't hide in the darkness anymore.

Secondly, we do have a weapon other lifeforms on earth don't: self knowledge. We can view ourselves dispassionately, as if we were a separate entity. We aren't compelled to act on our thoughts and feelings. Again, this brings great power.

In every swing of a pendulum there is a point of stillness in the middle. It exists between heartbeats, breaths taken in and out, between thought and the emotion it engenders, between feeling and action. This is the place of balance where we meet the Christ. We can practice finding that point until it becomes habit. When we feel self-righteous anger, we can say, "Ah, Lucifer is poking at me!". When we feel fearful or worthless, like life is drudgery and it doesn't really matter what we do because we'll never amount to anything anyway, we can know Ahriman is knocking on our door, hoping to win us over to his side.

The best way to neutralize these two influences is to pour one into the other. Try to cultivate warmth and enthusiasm in all you do, even when emptying the garbage or reading a boring article or listening to a dull conversation. Put a little beauty into the beast! Ahriman hates this. Practice viewing yourself with a bit of cold, clear dispassion so you can see all the ways Lucifer is attempting to lure you into feelings of arrogance and egotism. Beware of the beast that may lurk in beauty! After a time you'll begin to catch yourself before the pendulum swings in the opposite direction, and you can remain in that still, stable place.

This article barely scratches the surface of a vast and complex subject. I hesitated to even write it, but decided the subject is too important to ignore, and blowing it off would please Ahriman. Every voice counts!

The Mysterious Will-o-the-Wisp

You might think the title of this piece refers to an unearthly, slightly scary light dancing across a meadow at night. But actually I'm referring to solid matter! Recent science journals report that scientists have discovered how light can become matter. This is extremely exciting.

Rudolf Steiner, (1861 - 1925), an Austrian scientist, philosopher and seer, stated that "every substance on earth is condensed light. All matter is, in essence, light." (He was highly ridiculed by his peers).

Einstein too was ridiculed, but now science is catching up. Consider this: under a microscope, you see molecules moving around in empty space. If you look into the atoms of the molecules you find even more empty space and less solid material. Go deeper yet into sub-atomic particles - electrons, protons, neutrons, and there is essentially nothing solid remaining. It is 99.999999996% empty space!

Hmmm...why then does my hand stop when it hits the table? Scientists say it's the result of invisible fields and forces. Mysterious indeed. Especially considering that even light is invisible. We only see it reflected off particles of dust or other "solid" objects like planetary bodies in space.

Religion teaches that all things are made by God. The Godhead does not have a physical body. But He has the power to create matter out of His thoughts. Steiner said that rays of sunlight are actually the thoughts of divine beings who pour wisdom and love down upon the earth. Thought to light to solid matter.

Whether you believe in God or science or both, the matter beneath our feet holds profound mysteries. Should we, as average citizens, try to penetrate them?  Or should we leave that up to God and the scientists? Maybe looking for the source of solid matter is like chasing after a will-o-the-wisp. Or is it?

We humans were given the gift of reason. We were gifted with imagination, inspiration and intuition. Surely these tools were meant to be used. Surely we're not meant to sail through life enjoying all we've been given without seeking to understand it. 

Christ said "he who believes in me will also do the works I do, and greater works than these will he do". Christ healed the sick, raised people from the dead, walked on water. He understood how the Divine works in matter. If we're ever to even come close to His wisdom and power we have some work to do. I don't believe His abilities will be handed to us on a silver platter. Again, it might seem futile, like trying to capture a will-o-the-wisp, but we have to start somewhere. 

Why is finding the divine in nature so important?

1. It connects us with all the wide world and helps break down barriers.

2. It eases depression, loneliness and fear, bringing joy and a zest for life.

3. It honors and feeds the higher worlds. We aren't the only beings connected to the earth who are evolving. We all feed each other through our thoughts and deeds!

4.It fosters feelings of reverence, devotion and love.

5. It breathes life into otherwise "dead" words or concepts repeated over and over until they lose their meaning.

6. It counters the materialism of our age and our obsession with electronic devices which rob us of living contacts with others.

So where do we start? Here are a few suggestions that I've found helpful over the years.

1. Set aside a small block of time - even five minutes will do, twenty minutes is great.

2. Hold an object from the mineral, plant or animal world, or sit before it. Seeds and crystals are ideal, or use a feather or a blossom, anything as long as it's not manmade.

3. State your intent with a simple sentence, for example, "I intend to learn what secrets this object holds."

4. Have faith and trust in the process, also patience and an attitude of reverence and humility.

5. Observe and contemplate! Ponder the object's physical characteristics and purpose.

6. Meditate. After a time, let all other thoughts dissolve as best you can, close your eyes and concentrate on the feelings that arise as you hold the image of the object in your mind. Keep an open heart and know that you are doing blessed work.

That's it! Meditation actually changes our physical makeup. It calms the nerves, improves circulation and energy, slows heartrate, lowers blood pressure and allows the body to heal. Best of all, it merges the paths of knowledge and devotion, ending the mistrust that science and religion often have for each other. The light of God, working through us, transforms the earth!

 

 

Crystal Palace

Crystals talk. Their language isn't like ours, yet everyone who gazes at one will feel something inside. A little tug, a burst of light in the heart, a pulse of energy, wonderment and appreciation for such perfect beauty.

Clear quartz crystals formed during the early stages of the Earth's crust formation 500 million years ago, and some crystals found in Australia are estimated to be 2 to 3 billion years old. Just think of that! We can hold something in our hands literally older than dirt. What stories they hold! 

Because of quartz's durability and ability to absorb, store, release and regulate energy, it's ideal for making optical fibers used in telecommunications for high speed data transmission. Quartz is also used in microscopes, telescopes and lasers, and makes a strong insulator.

Crystals have long been used for healing, protection and spiritual growth. Do an online search for "healing with crystals" and you'll find reams of material to read. I won't attempt to repeat what others have said, but I'd like to share a little of my own experiences using quartz crystals for health and meditation.

I meditate twice a day for 20 minutes or so. I believe cleansing the mind and emotions is just as important as taking a daily shower. There are many ways to accomplish this; through prayer, reading, yoga, listening to music, walking in nature. Crystals can enhance all of these practices. They bring clarity to thoughts, foster feelings of strength and stability, deepen our connections to the world around us.

My method is simple and effective; in fact I'm often astonished at the results. I start with two of my favorite crystals, making sure they've been recently cleansed by holding them under running water (non-chlorinated), rubbing their surfaces briskly, then putting them outside in the sunlight for a few hours. I do this maybe once a week. There are other ways to cleanse crystals - you can read about those in books or online.

I hold the crystals in my palms, close my eyes and start by touching the smooth surfaces with my fingers, noticing what feelings arise. I think about how the crystals were formed so long ago. Before they hardened, crystals were liquid. I imagine divine forces guiding the liquid into geometric planes, gifting the earth with these exquisite objects for our pleasure, health and well-being.

Next I ponder on how the stones are beautifully formed but are finished evolving. They have no capacity for growth or change like living things do. They are permanent, unchangeable, stable, nearly indestructible. They are an oasis of safety. Now I imagine myself inside a crystal. I feel it holding me in a sacred space, insulating me from all outside influences. I feel calm and protected. I'm in my own crystal palace, safe and secure. I let go of all stress, all confusion, doubts, emotions and thoughts that aren't harmonious, and relax as they dissolve into the pure form of the crystal. After a time I take a few deep breaths, imagining light radiating down through my head and grounding me to the earth.

I'm constantly surprised by the thoughts that arise as I hang out in my crystal palace. They're very different than my usual thoughts. They come at lightning speed, without words, conveying their meaning in a sort of living picture that resides partly in my heart, partly in my head. How does this happen? I haven't a clue. The human brain doesn't yet have the capacity to understand how invisible energies work, making it hard to explain with words. It has to be felt. Different senses are needed for this, and practice is the only way to develop them.

When we use and appreciate crystals and start to unlock their ancient secrets, we benefit not only ourselves. Though crystals are lifeless, we can breathe life back into them by using them. We can carry their mission forward, and by so doing we grace the divine beings who created them with our gratitude. This forms a full circle of giving and receiving that elevates the entire world.

Winter is a perfect time to explore the world of crystals. Outside, nature is at rest beneath her  mantle of snow and ice. Birds and insects are silent, the air is crisp and thin, making thoughts clearer and sharper without the distractions that spring and summer bring. Find a crystal and explore.

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