•by Sibylle Custer• A question on so many people’s minds is, “How do we find peace with other people and with the world around us?” I’ve been reflecting on the nature of peace, and know that first of all, you need to have peace in yourself before you can radiate it outwards.
There is a story that has inspired me through the years, even in my childhood. The Russian writer Leo Tolstoy wrote about a farmer who was put in a very challenging situation, and had to figure out a way to find peace in himself.
The farmer who was living in a village, was used to doing his farm work during the week and going to church on Sunday. But then the Communist era started, and his farm was subject to new rules. The communist leaders were not supportive of the religious practices of the people in the village.
When they came to this farmer’s house on an Easter Saturday, the official asked him to plow his field on Easter morning in keeping with the new plan of government. The farmer said: “It’s Easter Sunday tomorrow; I would like to go to church.”
The official left the farmer thinking that if he did not oblige and go according to the plan of the officials, he would lose his farm and his livelihood. So the farmer was faced with the question of what to do: go to church, or plow the field?
Nowadays, his solution sometimes comes to my mind. What he did fascinates me. He dressed in his Sunday clothes with white shirt, looking absolutely festive. He went to his plow and started to plow his field, but first put a candle on the plow and lit it. Now he plowed the field in his Sunday outfit, and nobody could say anything about that! He did what the world had asked of him, but he also did not give up what his soul wanted to do, which was to worship God on Sunday.
That is a decision that we are sometimes asked to make: to give the world what the world is asking, but also remain true to our own self. Jesus said, “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give unto God what is God’s.” This way you don’t lose your soul, which is as important (or more so) than whatever the world is asking of you. That solution has stayed really deep in me. That farmer was truly at peace.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene
•collage art and story by Dawn King• Happy Halloween and All Saints Day!•
This world is a multi-faceted stage where many stories are unfolding simultaneously. They may be dramas, comedies or intrigues. We are the authors and actors who are co-creating these plays. Our daily script reflects our consciousness. Is our glass half empty or half full? It is up to us to determine this.
Once upon a time there was a pickle that was immersed in brine with the rest of its kind. This very special pickle realized it had free will and the ability to conceptualize. Unaware, however, of its inherently perfect state, it decided to get out of the brine and go it alone. But since pickles have not much going for them on their own, it found that lying around outside of the brine simply led to drying out and feeling lonely. It was not a healthy state.
My fickle pickle years came in my late teens. As a child, I had known my origins and close connection with God, my Creator. Still, when I went away to college at seventeen, I felt isolated, alone and lost. This didn’t last long since, even as a child, my main direction in life was toward serving Spirit, and finding Spirit in myself and others.The longer I’ve lived, the more joy and rewards I’ve found while drawing closer and closer to Spirit.
Each of us is somewhat like the lonely pickle. Unknown to our rational minds, we are part of the perfect bliss of our Creator—we’re droplets of wind-blown spray on the timeless sea of life. Our minds tell us we have free will and the ability to go and do what we want. That is true within the parameters of our reality, our consciousness. If we can awaken to experience our Source, and thus, our oneness with all life, we may be able to keep that focus throughout the rest of our days. This would help us avoid feelings of loneliness and unhappiness.
Remembrance of those who have departed brings us varied thoughts and feelings. How grateful we should be for all they endured in order to learn lessons which may come easier to us as a result. Our very DNA has been altered by their skills and experiences.
With renewed zeal we are encouraged to dive into life while we have that privilege. We are each actors in life, challenged to do our best, and embrace the energy of love that created us.
A star who has sparked our imaginations is Frida Kahlo. Her self-portrait (altered here) is the centerpiece and focus of this collage. She represents the immortal soul freedom each of us has in reality. [This image and “Remembrance” messageis available as a greeting card, as are many others at and through Sunburst.org.]
•by Norm Paulsen, Sunburst Founder•[photo: horses at Sunburst Sanctuary] •Pure consciousness is ecstasy. It is living with a deep appreciation for every microsecond of time. It is being alive, and being involved in life. That is pure consciousness, and I’m sure dolphins have it, along with many others in the animal kingdom. Dolphins swim playfully, talk to each other, and have regard for humans, even as humankind’s actions are destroying them and their habitat. Some consider dolphins to be less conscious than humans because they can’t build skyscrapers or send a rocket to the Moon. But these actions don’t portray pure consciousness.
Many years ago I had the good fortune to become close to a horse named Jato and discovered that horses have expanded consciousness. Animals live in greater regard for nature’s laws than many human beings do. If people enjoyed the level of consciousness that most animals have, they would not pollute the Earth and destroy each other needlessly.
In my relationship with Jato, whom I loved very much, I gradually discovered that thoughtforms in the form of mental images were a way to communicate with him. As we were together more, our communication evolved beyond thoughtforms and mental images. It became a voice contact on the spiritual plane, an audible thought transference.
One day I came into the field where Jato was dozing in the sun. He was standing all the way at the other end of the pasture with his tail toward me. Wild oats growing in the field were about three or four feet high. I got down low in the oats and decided to test his ability. In thought I yelled loudly, “Jato! Jato!” Peeking through the grass, I saw his head jerk up. He turned, looking over his back at the field behind him. All of a sudden he spun around and came galloping very fast through the oats toward me.
I thought, “Jato, if you don’t see me, you’re going to run right over me!” There wasn’t even time to jump up before he arrived. Of course, he didn’t run over me. I stood up as he ran around me kicking and whinnying.
Mentally he projected, “Who do you think you’re talking to?Do you think because I’m a horse that I don’t have the ability to know where you are if I want to?”
I salute you,” I said inwardly as he came close to greet me. I learned a lot from Jato! I saw how much I had to learn, and how much the animal kingdom really does know. Having thought I was somewhat developed at the time, I was astonished to discover my ignorance.
Jato told me that all horses are like him and don’t bother with humans who think horses are dumb beasts, because those humans wouldn’t be able to hear them even if the horses did try to communicate. I’m sure dolphins and other animals are the same way. Birds, cats, all talk in mental images. Everything in nature will talk to you telepathically, if you believe that you have the ability to converse and give it an opportunity.
Humankind has a chance to survive on this world, if we listen. We need to deeply listen and continue to practice what’s right, to persevere until we attain illumination. Then we will begin to understand how to live in harmony with nature, our Earth, and the animal kingdom.
•by Fredd Dunham•At the beginning of my spiritual path, I was blessed with an experience that utterly changed my life. The events that led up to this experience remind me that God is always watching over us with divine love, watching and helping us with our choices in life, if we only ask.
As a young man in the early 1970s, a deep longing for Spirit awakened within me. I had been involved in many of the distractions of that era, but was struggling to find my way out. I heard about a meditation center in the mountains above Santa Barbara and was immediately attracted to the energy. I attended one of the meditations and met the founder, Norm Paulsen, who invited me to live in the downtown office of the retreat center as its caretaker.
At the time, I was not totally clear on the necessity of staying away from drugs, alcohol, and other distractions in order to live a spiritual life. So one day I accepted the invitation of an old friend to her party in the foothills of Santa Barbara. She asked me to bring firewood, and gave me money to pick up a bottle of wine.
I went back to the retreat office to load up the firewood, and ran into Norm there. I mentioned my plans as we sat down. Norm looked at me compassionately, then said: “If you want the experience of divine illumination, you won’t find it in something outside of yourself. As Jesus said, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is within you.’ It’s already there. Seek and you shall find.” I could feel the power of truth emanating from Norm as he quietly spoke.
After further discussion, he left to drive up the mountain and attend group meditation. I was alone, struggling to make my decision. My inner spirit was saying, “Yes I want to meditate and awaken God’s Spirit within me; this is what I want in life.” But my self-conscious mind argued, “You promised to go to the party, to bring the firewood, to buy the wine. You have to go! You promised!”
I loaded up the wood, but didn’t buy the wine, thinking that I would just give my friend her money back. I headed up to the party, praying fervently, while a battle was going on within me. The closer I got to the party, the more agitated I became as the struggle within me intensified.
The road to the party was full of curves as it gently climbed and wound in and out of canyons. Turning the first curve, I could see a huge, beautiful cloud above and in front of me. Each time I rounded a curve I would lose sight of it. Then around another curve, there it was again as if it was following me, watching me.
As I was about to round the last corner I realized I had to make a choice immediately. In my anguish, I cried out: “Oh God, I don’t want to tempt you, but please show me a sign!” Turning the next corner, I saw the huge cloud had changed. It had become a giant arrow pointing toward the top of the mountain, right toward the meditation retreat!
In the depths of my soul, a great sigh of relief expressed: “Thank you Lord!” I turned the car around and didn’t take my foot off the accelerator until I returned to the road that led to the retreat. Arriving just as meditation started, I joined the circle without a word.
It has been said that God comes when we least expect it. As I sat down in the meditation room, over my head I suddenly beheld the radiant, living body of Christ, a sphere of light brighter than the daytime sun. It was composed of ten thousand orbs of light—suns within a Sun. They were constantly moving at incredible speed, like bees outside of a hive, each one striking me on the crown of my head with divine power. I was filled with indescribably ecstasy, and knew in that moment what was meant by: “I stand at the door and knock.” The loving light of Christ eternally stands at that door on the crown of each person’s head, knocking and waiting to be invited to enter in.
This experience set my feet on the homeward path to Divine Spirit. Although it’s often hard to hold onto that energy in daily life, I know that God doesn’t look at how many times we fall, or what mistakes we make. Instead, our Divine Parents are very much like loving parents in this life who are watching their young child learn to walk. If the child falls, there’s no reproach, only love and encouragement to get up and try again. If we reach up one hand to Spirit, Spirit will reach down two to help us.
• by April • The world I dream of living in, creating, and being a part of…
Society truly exists as one heart. Being“real.”
Not wondering if someone is being honest.
Not hiding behind shadows.
Expressing oneself freely without fear/concern of being judged, because no one judges.
Having and being a friend where endless patience, support and encouragement is prevalent.
All animals are loved and revered and are protected from all harm.
Children are encouraged to be themselves. Starting in school by hearing the questions: What excites you? What makes you feel impassioned? What do you want to learn about? What are you curious about? What does your heart whisper to you? What is important to you? How best can you help others? What is love to you? These are a very small list of questions to jump start every child’s life journey.
Experiencing nature every day is commonplace.
Sunrises and Sunsets have deep meaning that everyone understands.
All the elements are experienced in a plethora of ways.
Everyone is encouraged to be their best self. No matter how many lessons it takes, or how long it takes, knowing you are loved and supported, and
you will eventually be the best version possible.
All talents are recognized, needed and appreciated.
All jobs/responsibilities are honored. None better or more important than another.
Respect, kindness and gratitude are natural/common expressions.
The gifts of Mother Earth and all the elements are always loved, respected and understood.
Every person on Mother Earth, knows that everything they need for any reason lies within them.
All life’s wisdom is within every person’s heart flame.
It’s up to each individual to awaken the flames of creation.
Every human being knows to love themselves, the greatest love of all.
•by Norman Paulsen • One morning while meditating, I experienced a vision. I found myself standing on the ridge above the lodge at our wilderness sanctuary. In the vision, I was looking out across the hills and up the canyons, It was foggy and the sky was gray. I wondered what the meaning was for this early morning vision. Then I noticed it showed that the livestock gate was open to the mesa.
As I drove to the sanctuary several hours later, Spirit said, “You’d better check the bulls.” So I went up the road and onto the mesa. Out towards the water tanks I saw two of the younger bulls, but none of the older ones. I looked all around, then went back up the ridge toward the gate. Here was the same scene that had been shown to me in my meditation earlier that morning. Upon reaching the gate, I could see that someone had left it open. It was clear that the older bulls were now loose on the sanctuary somewhere! We had a big job to do now!
This experience continued to show me that we can be in tune with God, with life, with our projections and responsibilities. Yes, we can receive direction and inspiration to help us see things BEFORE they happen, and try to prevent them, or make them easier to deal with. After many years of meditating daily, I cannot function correctly in my work and carry out my day if I don’t go to the well of Spirit and drink with God. It has become a habit for me to sit down and meditate each morning.
To meditate in the morning with the rising sun is to bring the sweetness of God’s presence into our life for the whole day, to receive instruction mentally and visually. We arrive at the right time and the right place for the right thing to happen for us, not too early or too late. When we are on God’s time, meditating and praying every morning, wondrous things begin to happen in our lives. We see God fulfilling our selfless desires, and freeing us up for the journey ahead.
