God was talking to me yesterday morning—I have the most interesting conversations with Him—He was speaking of dragons. In the East dragons are seen as powerful portents of good luck. However, in the West dragons are pictured as greedy, hold up in the base of mountains jealously guarding their gold—both in East and West dragons are generally thought of being snake-like with the ability to fly. These polar-opposite associations of good and bad dragons in the East and the West reflect the changing imagery of snakes from the Old to the New Testaments.

In the Old Testament the snake is subtle and a source of temptation; the cause of the fall of mankind and the eviction of man and woman from the Garden of Eden. The dragon in the West is greedy, sitting alone on a pile of gold and if anyone challenges his riches he defends his keep with angry fire. Symbolically this snake-dragon of the West represents the lower forces in man: greed, lust and wrath. The dragon does nothing productive with his gold but only miserly sits on it. His fire is an aggressively destructive response to his greed. There is nothing good, nothing redeeming about this dragon.

St. George subdues his dragon; he does not kill it but is pictured with his spear projecting up from the mouth of the dragon. This has important meaning. St. George has mastered the lower forces of lust, greed and anger; the spear represents the spine and the lower energies are channeled upward to the higher centers. In the New Testament Jesus refers to the serpent as wise and that it must be lifted up, even as Moses did in the wilderness (John 3-14)—St. George has accomplished this difficult task.

In the East the dragon is in the positive, elevated state with the power to give boons to the deserving supplicant. The dragon’s ability to fly means it has uplifting power, and it has mastery over water, which symbolizes consciousness. We see the dragon in festive array during New Year celebrations being paraded down the street with the idea of bringing good luck for the new year.

However, once we understand the symbolic meaning of the dragon, we know it is not a mythical being to pray to or petition for good things but represents an active power inside of us that can act for good or for ill, depending upon how we direct our thoughts and life-energy. With pure intention we focus on lifting this powerful force up the spine—raising us into realms divine. What an opportunity we have in this lifetime to not simply grovel deep in the base of the mountain, sitting in the dark full of greed, lust and anger, but that we might take wing and fly amongst angelic stars of heavenly consciousness in the bliss of our heavenly kingdom.

I bow to the Divine Mind that has so taught me about these universal symbols—unfolding their meaning so that we might all learn to soar.  

Travel Note: We are currently encamped near Moab, next to the Colorado River with over a hundred feet of a sheer wall of red stone rising out of the other side of the river. The days sunny, the nights cool. We will explore Arches National Park, Canyonlands, and nearby is Red Rock canyons where most of John Wayne movies were filmed, along with Indiana Jones and many other movies. Three years ago we were here and it was discovered that I was bleeding internally, so anemic the doctor wondered how I managed to walk in the door of the emergency room—not carried in! It was the beginning of quite a medical journey. It is interesting to note I have only positive associations with Moab, the medical past seems to be another lifetime ago now. Perhaps the dragon found me worthy and has blessed me. Surely, we are blessed by the Infinite, both within and without.  

One of the most intimate ways to be with your Maker is to be in conversation with Him throughout your days and nights. Union with God presents a variety of ways to be in relationship with your deepest Soul connection. Since it is quite human to talk as a means to share information, grow closer and share your deepest thoughts and feelings, why would you not be conversing your Heavenly Father/Divine Mother in just that way?

What a resource you have in God—a confidant, friend and wise counselor are just some of contacts you might have with the Infinite. The key in all of your spiritual practice is, “What makes you feel close to God?” When struggling with something in life, it is so wonderful to place it before your Divine Friend. “Lord, you have given me quite a problem, what shall we do?” Then open yourself to listening as well as talking. I once heard a wise saying, “Prayer without meditation is like asking a question without waiting for an answer?” So, you must learn to be quiet for one-God-blessed-moment to listen to what God might be thinking about the subject. The mind is so busy talking, usually repeating the same worries over and again, all the while going in circles without stopping long enough to receive inner direction. A conversation must be two ways for it to be truly complete.

So often, when you are up against difficulties you immediately feel alone; that you are without anyone to help you. To reach out to the Supreme Beloved breaks the circle of isolation into which you have placed yourself. One thing you observe, the more stuck you are the more alone you feel. When you connect with God you practice humility, for much of isolation comes from pride and shame—which are two sides of the same coin. You think, “I can do this, I will not ask for help from others—I don’t want to be seen as inadequate. Then you suffer from the tremendous weight of pride, and it is sinking you. Humility opens the door to Divine help, especially when you need it most (and in truth we need it at all times).  

To feel that you have a friend in God makes your heart glow. God laughs with you, cries with you, enjoys a sunny day with you and commiserates on rainy days. Your Divine Friend is the only one who can be with you always: from birth of the body to its last breath, before you come into this incarnation and far beyond when you continue your adventure. God creates you, so He knows you more intimately than perhaps you know yourself—so there is nothing to hide. Oh what a friend you have in God! So loyal, patient, with solace in heart and mind when you come to Him in earnestness. To cultivate this friendship makes the Infinite available to you day and night: a witness to your trials, a collaborator in your tests, and a dispenser of joy when you accomplish something worthy.

Start this collaboration with your Beloved exactly where you are—sincerity is all that is required. It is you who have kept the door closed, so you must open it with your honest approach to Him. Simply open your heart to your Heavenly Father, receive the warm comfort of your Divine Mother, play with your beloved Friend, talk over your troubles with your wise Counselor. Walk hand in hand in times of peace, so that when trials shriek you need only reach out and there you will find your most sacred Beloved. Even when going beyond dualities realm and He is your very Self, the “conversation” continues as He is with you as divine thoughts moving through your mind and sacred emotions flowing through your heart. So, whether in duality or beyond, God is the one constant that takes you through all stages of life and is ever your well-wisher. Deepen your conversation with Him now and you will discover your Friend of friends is waiting for you this very moment.  

Travel Note: We are currently in Salt Lake City area and plan to leave for southern Utah to commune with Divine Mother’s natural wonders—taking our pilgrimage to Her Natural Cathedrals.

Prayer Note: Let us pray for the families, friends and those who were at the Philadelphia Synagogue who were attacked by a man in an act of senseless violence. Let civility be the watchword for encountering those who are different from ourselves. As Master used to say, “Fools argue, wise men discuss.” Let there be civility, kindness, a desire to understand another’s point of view—find the common ground of universal brotherhood upon which to build lasting relationships with all men and women. Hate and intolerance is not a solution—only mutual respect and love heals.  

That is our spiritual mother, Mother Hamilton was right. I have chosen from a list of things that make you live longer according to some of the most recent scientific studies. I was struck by how many things have proven Mother to be right–some of these findings even go against current popular thinking. Such as, moderate alcohol use can be healthy—the conclusion by this large world-wide meta-study on alcohol use reported in Lancet concludes that no amount of alcohol use is considered healthy. And marriage—turns out its good for you and will make you live longer. Take a look at the list and you may be surprised how science has confirmed what Mother taught; and many the time she’s going against the tide of the times.

Say ‘Om’: Meditating even for just a few minutes each day can dramatically improve your outlook, emotions, and health.

No Amount of Alcohol Consumption is Healthy: For decades, we were told that moderate alcohol consumption can be heart healthy, but now a new study in The Lancet warns that there is no such thing as safe or healthy alcohol consumption.

Quit smoking: The single most important thing anyone can do for their health is to avoid tobacco or quit smoking.

Get hitched: Married people live longer than non-married folk, according to a study from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Look to a higher power: People who attend religious services at least once a week tend to outlive those who go less often, a study suggests.

Start a gratitude journal: Grateful people feel healthier and report fewer aches and pains, according to a study in Personality and Individual Differences.

Find your calling: Find a calling that gives you purpose, you’ll live longer according to a study in the Journal of Health Psychology.

Give back for the right reasons: Volunteers who lend a hand for selfless reasons live longer than those who don’t volunteer, a new study shows.

Go Dark: Chocoholics rejoice! Dark chocolate—with a minimum of 70 percent cacao—can lower stress and inflammation and improve mood, memory, and immunity, according to two new studies presented at the Experimental Biology 2018.

Stand your ground: Don’t back down, research shows that a stubborn disposition [read strong will] may give you an important edge—a longer life.

Order chicken instead of steak: Eating red meat increases the likelihood of dying from cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes, infections, kidney disease, and liver disease. On the other hand, eating white meat like fish and chicken reduces the risk.

Don’t vape: The latest research shows that adolescent users get just as much nicotine with e-cigs as they do with traditional ones. And another new study found that vaping may modify the DNA in the mouths of users, which could increase their cancer risk. [Vaping is new since Mother taught, but her admonition, “no smoking” holds here.]

Enjoy a cup of joe… or 8! Drinking coffee (even as much as eight cups a day!)—decreases your risk of dying from all causes, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine. However, if you get headaches, an irregular heartbeat, or gastric upset from drinking coffee, just skip it [Mother drank coffee, nowhere near 8 cups a day though].

C’mon get happy: A recent study from Harvard found that people who scored highest on measures of optimism had a 16 percent lower risk of death from cancer, a 38 percent lower risk of death from heart disease and respiratory disease, and a 39 percent lower risk of dying from stroke.

While Mother did not teach us to eat chocolate or drink coffee, she did enjoy both; I know she would agree it is not beneficial for everyone if they have negative side effects. She asked us to promise not to drink alcohol, smoke, use recreational drugs and that we have no sex without benefit of marriage—as it turns out, Mother was right!

Generally, as devotees we know what our foibles are: anger, greed, fear and lust are some of the big ones. Any one of these can trip us up in our sadhana and therefore we must keep a steady vigilance against these obstacles to realizing our true Divine Nature.

Fear had not been a typical problem for me, but there came a time in my meditation when it fissured from some unknown depth—this unpredictable emergence of a contrary thought or emotion can happen to any devotee due to latent tendencies buried deep in the subconscious mind. When this fear came up it made me want to be anywhere other than sitting on my meditation asana. I thought, “It would be so easy never to meditate again as this seems to be the only time this fear comes.” But some better part of me knew that I must overcome this emotion in order to make spiritual progress; running away was no solution. So, I returned again and again to the battleground until I eventually worked through fear’s many layers.

Sometimes the lurking opposition is not so obvious—a subtle force behind the scenes makes us shy away from going deeper. It is not until we really challenge it that the obstacle reveals its vicious tenacity and its true name. Thus, we can remain only surface deep in our devotions while pretending everything is alright, but all the time not making real spiritual progress. We must work at keeping ourselves on that edge of growth–not overstraining and not slacking but ever looking to improve.

Sadhakas do not have anyone following them around to make sure they are doing all they can to make spiritual progress; they must be self-correcting and challenge themselves from their own desire for Self-realization. Each person’s progress is determined by his or her own self-direction. It is not a matter of just putting in your time, you must make your time count. Ask yourself, “Do I feel ever-new joy? Is there peace and an inner stillness at the core of who I am and what I do? Is the Divine Presence with me day and night? Are my thoughts, words and actions worthy of being a child of the Infinite? These hallmarks are indications of true spiritual growth and let us know when we are making progress.

You have been taught by Mother not to settle for “Mr. In-between.” And why would you rob yourself of your rightful heritage? To know the joy, bliss, light, wisdom and power of God’s all-embracing Presence makes all the things of the world appear as mere baubles. You think this world is wonderful, and there is no denying it is a marvelous creation, but in comparison with the greatness of God inside of you it is as nothing. Bless yourself by taking the spiritual adventure of a lifetime; be in the Know and get the Insider information that boosts your God-stock—it only ever goes up and it never loses its value! Touching the hem of God makes you drop to your knees in disbelief that this divinity has been secreted away in the recesses of your Being all this time; yet you never knew it. It is then you stand in wonder as to why you took so long to make the effort to go deeper and to soar higher.

Travel and pilgrimage Notes: Go West Young Man: Carla and I plan to shift to the Southwest desert soon. I feel the pull of the desert as a place to work on writings, both Mother’s and my own. Mother and Master went to the desert at important times in their work, Master going often to write and as a result we have his pre-eminent Gita and New Testament commentaries. We plan to keep in touch through YouTube and Skype Talks and will be back to Camano Island for the month of December for Maple Ridge and Camano Christmas Services and Camano’s New Year’s meditations. Go East Young Man! At Swami Chandranandaji’s and the Ashram’s invitation and God’s direction we plan to travel to Anandashram next year during the month of November, 2019. Our current thought is to be at the Ashram through the month for the 100 year celebration of our dear Swami Satchidananda. I know there are those who have expressed an interest in coming to Anandashram when we are there, and this will give you time to make your plans if God so prompts you (Please write the Ashram first if you plan to come). The Ashram with its triune realized masters, Papa, Mataji and Swamiji, as well as Swamis Mutktanandaji and Chandrananda and all inmates there make it a blessing and a great boon for all sincere sadhakas who pilgrimage to the Ashram. Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!

We are on our way up to Victoria to join Rose and Bob in making their marriage renewal vows–after 50 years of first making their commitment. Along with raising beautiful children, working hard for many years in Prince Rupert, then moving to Victoria, they have lived a full life together. They stand as testament to what marriage can be at a time when the idea of marriage is doubted by many. They show respect, kindness and support at every turn. Like all relationships it does not mean there have not been differences along the way, but they have negotiated these and matured into lives well-lived with one another.

Before marriage is thrown out by new generations looking for something less committal, we should understand the virtues of–why marriage? It fulfills so many functions on so many levels, it is not possible to note them all in a short space, or perhaps they can never be limited to a list, but let us look at a few.

Marriage was developed in ages past not merely as a means of collecting and passing down property, or proclaiming ownership of another person—these dynamics came as a result of darker ages. Although there is an economy of a committed relationship—statistics bear out that couples who complete high school, get married before children and stay married do far better financially than those who do not. So, there is practical financial sense in this arrangement.

Also, children reared in a long-term committed relationship do much better on every level, even if couples that stay together fuss and fight according to studies that span dozens of years. So, it is definitely better for children. And there are the other practical advantages. Sexually transmitted diseases, which are epidemic today, do not happen to those who remain true to their beloved one. Making sensible plans about having children when a couple is ready means abortion is not necessary, children can be financially prepared for, there is time for working out who does what (as there are great advantages to working together as a team). Even with so many clear advantages of marriage on these practical levels, there are even more compelling reasons for making this commitment for life.

The psychological growth that happens when a couple work on their relationship is unparalleled with marriage. As individuals, we evolve and so will husbands and wives need to evolve in a marriage. We are not the same person when we are 20 as when we are 30 or 40 (usually that is thankfully so!). Through the many changes we go through it demands good faith negotiations that require a baseline of mutual respect. And respect is a must for any healthy relationship. Master often spoke of overfamiliarity as a primary problem for couples, and, of course, he is exactly right. We learn that our words, tone of voice and attitude all matter, and this is not more apparent than with a marriage of a husband and wife. These demands of a changing nature combined with learning the value of respect, along with the ability to negotiate our way through differences and a basic stick-to-itness are powerful means to mature and become wiser and more tolerant with time.

An even deeper element than the psychological maturity that comes with a healthy marriage is spiritual bonding. As we change with time and grow psychologically, there are also spiritual heights of the union of two souls that become as one in God. Nature does a remarkable job of simulating spiritual union with new sex. Many times, in those initial encounters ego boundaries collapse and there is a total joining of body and mind. It can feel perfect—in the moment. Then the differences come in and we can spend a lifetime trying to get back to that first union, or go from relationship to relationship seeking that magic.

The real magic is in going to the next level that is attained with psychological harmony, and then on to spiritual union. There are no quick, 5 Minutes to Spiritual Union books, that is what sex tries to simulate, but so unsatisfyingly. A couple who works out many of the psychological rough edges may then, by going further come into spiritual union. This union transcends time and space as  it units two souls. While the two will still hold differences on a human level, they still may experience oneness in spirit–a dropping of boundaries and entering into a peaceful sea of Soul connection. It is a transcendent merging of two souls that are as one in God.

There are souls who stay together through the years, working out the rough edges with no success–only drinking from a bitter cup. Some work on their relationship with some degree of growth, and others who really find that level of mutual respect and mellow into a fine patina like a well made and cared for artwork. Then others achieve the ultimate merging of souls and are able to maintain that over time, a true spiritual union—this is the ultimate fulfillment of marriage in addition to the many other great advantages. God’s presence felt in such a spiritual relationship lifts the hearts and spirits of all and God greatly blesses such ones—they are the true power-couple. May we be blessed to find such a spiritual union with another if it be His will for us to find a soul with whom to be with on such a great adventure.       

On this day of September 30 we celebrate the birth of Lahiri Mahasaya—born in the village of Ghurni  in 1828 the great Bengali master is the headwaters of a spiritual revolution. The master came into the world at the direction of his great guru, Babaji. Babaji was introducing the concept of the householder yogi, one who is in the world but not of it. Like Kabir before him, Lahiri Baba demonstrated and taught that formal renunciation was not a necessity in order to attain the highest states of realization. It was the wish of Babaji and Lahiri Mahasaya to not only bring in a new life-style for aspirants to follow, but to give the refined pranayama meditation practice of Kriya Yoga to help accelerate the spiritual evolution of all sincere aspirants.

No individual becomes a master and perfect teacher without daily making innumerable decisions to attain that high state. After working a full day, the master would engage in nightly meditation. Like all aspirants, he experienced gradual states of unfolding that both purified and taught him along the way. Lahiri Baba focused on the Light seen at the ajna—sometimes that light became a form, it was his own Atman or Christ-self he was seeing. In this Light he also perceived his great guru as that same Light—the inner and the outer merged and became one. Once he had a form of Light come out of his own body—all these experiences worked to release him from the bondage of ignorance and separation. Although he had already attained Nirvikalpa Samadhi on meeting his master, there were many more experiences for the him to go through before attaining the ultimate liberation of Brahma Nirvana or Sahaja Samadhi.

Even as he continued to ascend his spinal stairway of realization he taught those who came to him and saw him as their guru. For Lahiri Baba the scriptures of India were not merely historical persons, places and actions, but in weekly Gita classes he peerlessly taught that these were actual descriptions of what goes on in the three bodies and the mind of a disciple when attaining realization—thus the Bhagavad Gita and other historical texts were seen in the light of Kriya Yoga and inner spiritual experiences. As an intrepid explorer and forerunner to his disciple Sri Yukteswarji, his disciple’s disciple Paramhansa Yogananda, and his disciple’s disciple-disciple Yogacharya Mother Hamilton, his wisdom penetrated through the outer layers of these ancient stories to perceive the most perfect metaphors for realization laid out in story form before all mankind; seemingly hidden but truly in plain sight. He handed down this revolutionary view of the scriptures to new generations of disciples and for all humanity—this is truly an essential part of the great master’s legacy.

Lahiri Mahasaya was not interested in limiting forms of religious practice, but only taught those methods that were liberating in and of themselves and could be of maximum utilitarian use for practitioners by this most practical of teachers. He taught no forms or images of God, but if disciples found inspiration in such forms he did not make prohibitions against their use. “Striving, striving, striving, one day behold, the Goal!” was not just something he recommended to others, but was indicative of his total dedication that took him all the way to the fullest realization. Whether a sincere devotee was a mailman, a Muslim, Christian or of low caste, it made no difference to this universally realized master. His compassion was not limited by outer circumstances, but his grace was and is open to all.

The great master did not profit from his role as teacher. He took a job as a tutor after retirement to help make ends meet. Monies he took in from initiation he passed on to Babaji. Truly, he was the most noble and wonderful teacher and guru and a perfect example for us all. I have seen teachers surrounded in wealth, focused on by thousands and even displaying powers and making themselves famous in the bargain. But, I would not trade any amount of time with those teachers for a moment of sitting with Lahiri Mahasaya in his little parlor in quiet meditation and being absorbed in the Infinite expanse and endless glory of his Divine Consciousness.

Simplicity, perfect joy, keen insightful wisdom, and purity of thought, word and action are all defining virtues of this great master. I thank God and Babaji for the day Lahiri Baba was born into a human body, for the great gift that he is, for the Kriya Yoga he taught and the supreme wisdom he freely gave to all sincere aspirants who sought shelter at his holy feet. May we too find such shelter and be led into the highest states of realization by this supreme master, our para-param guru Lahiri Mahasaya.     

Who is my mother, brother or sister? Those who are actively attuned to my Heavenly Father—pure Spirit beyond time and space, beyond personhood—they are my spiritual family which supersedes all other relationships. (Spiritual translation of Matthew 12:48-50) Jesus was making an important point to those around him. Even the special bond of an eldest son to a mother is secondary to spiritual communion in God.

I watch as the nearly full moon descends into the western sky. It is a September harvest moon, and in its radiance I feel an even greater after-glow from yesterday’s equinoctial group meditation. What glory there is in divine communion not only with our Heavenly Father/Divine Mother, but also with all brothers and sisters coming together in spirit as well. This superior union in Spirit connects us all and is greater than bonds of blood, greater than friendships based on common worldly interests, for it goes to the innermost core of the Atman or Soul—my part of God.

The infinite Lord has been teaching me over these many years the nature of this spiritual bond. When I sat at the feet of Swami Satchidananda, he said at the time of my departure—after spending four months at the Ashram—“Whenever you think of the Ashram, you will be here.” I had some notion of what he was saying, but really I had only touched the surface of those deep waters to which he was alluding.

Through deepening experience new ways of connecting with not only the Ashram and Swamiji but with all God’s creation began to reveal themselves to me. Truly, I could think of Swamiji half way around the world and I did feel I was with him. This form of connection is different than a psychic connection–in which I know something about someone else through intuition—I asked God to take that away from me because I could feel its allure to my ego-sense. No, this connection happens in a Divine Field: in knowing God-experience I also commune with whatever God reveals about different ones He brings to mind. In this field there was no ego allure, but a deep feeling of compassionate, loving Spirit.

Information coming from this inner communion varies according to Divine Will, from specific information to a general sense of being, from past life influences to what may occur in coming times. No curiosity or delving into more than what is given is triggered by such inner communion, but a very simple trust that whatever comes to me is what is needed in the moment. Physical proximity is not a requirement. Spirit is a time and space annihilator, for communing through Spirit operates through a substratum present in all creation. In Spirit, everything exists equally, without distinction of high or low and the many opposites that occupies material relationships. Really, when it comes to it, there is no such thing as brother or sister, mother or father, there is only one Being who is perfect, pure and all-pervading—all expressions are of this one Spirit. Therefore, I am really only knowing something about my Self, for there is no other.

As we sat in meditation on this powerful equinox inwardly communing with infinite Spirit, various disturbances that others are experiencing effortlessly come to my awareness—for I feel no difference between various parts of God. Physical discomfort, emotional pain or blockages and restless thoughts all dance across my mental screen. And what do I do with these? I pass them on to the feet of God, I surrender them to Him. It may be something from those sitting in the room with me, it may be from those who are at a great physical distance—in Spirit it makes no difference. There are times when the pain or disturbance is excruciating, but it is all God and therefore it is all good. It is all about surrender to the Light; letting go of all that that keeps us from knowing our oneness with God or pure Spirit.

And this is why on both a human and a spiritual level kinship in Spirit is of superior value. Spiritual Relationship is geared toward mutual advancement in God-awareness. Other relationships can also be important, but they cannot match the highest common good that is derived from communion through infinite Spirit. “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

We all a love a good story, whether told orally, in a book or film; and the best stories entail the hero’s journey. Such a story portrays the hero being drawn to a course of action, often taking it reluctantly, in which he or she must leave all that is known and familiar and sets out to accomplish a noble and selfless goal. The nature of such a story is such that it entails the risk of death or actual death and then an eventual return or rebirth and the attainment of something new, better and more expansive. Carl Jung called characters and themes found in stories around the world archetypes—so pervasive and enduring are such stories that they belong to the collective unconscious.

Powerful stories can carry you places, even as does beautiful music—which is its own sort of story telling. It can be useful to see your life as a living narrative, to see it as a hero’s journey. The hero seeks out truth and is willing to go anywhere, do anything to attain what he or she is seeking. We can certainly see this pattern in Mother’s life. As we studied her time with Papa during our last retreat, or her meeting her master, Paramhansa Yogananda, we saw that she was inspired to fulfill something she had always known she was to do, a destiny that was important not only for herself but for the world at large. This knowledge, that she had a calling, something she must do, that must be realized, drove her beyond all reason and caution to journey into higher and higher states of consciousness—to her full God-realization.

You can think that such stories are only true for great spiritual masters such as Mother, Papa or Master, but that is not acknowledging that God is the indwelling Presence in you as well. As Master once said, “The same God that is in me is in you.” What a wonderful truth for him to confirm, a fact that is true for all creatures—for God is the seed-force in one and in all. In truth, God is the driving power behind everything you think, say and do; whether it be mundane or spiritual. For, everything in your life is orchestrating events so that you might come to your ultimate hero’s journey.

There are many journeys of a hero’s nature we have over time. It can be a simple thing, such as telling the truth when it would seem easier or more expedient to tell a lie. Or, it can be a more difficult test, doing something that is the right thing to do, but doing so may cost you a great deal. You create a pattern for yourself when you face a difficulty and overcome your fear, you do what is right whatever the potential cost. As a result, you grow stronger and the integrity of your soul shines out from you. Ultimately, you are being purified by such experiences–prepared for the final mile of God-realization.

Whether you find yourself on the first rung of this story or the final mile, the pattern you follow is the same—you stay true to the higher light of truth, love and universal service in all you think, say and do. As happens in any hero’s journey worth its salt, the hero may fail to live up to the standards of a noble path along the way. But, the hero does not give up, rather he recovers and keeps going—that is what makes it a hero’s journey. And that is your hero’s journey, to recover, to keep going no matter what; it is the sure way that leads through darkened places and into the light. You, we, are here to individually and collectively walk upon this path of the hero, to make your way to the portal of the Infinite, then to enter into that portal and go beyond all that you have known before. In truth your life is the greatest story ever told; so, make it a good one, make it count.

Picture: Tree of Four Seasons

September has always been a time of new beginnings for me, perhaps it started with it being the commencement of a new school year. But, it is not just that, all through my adult years I have noticed it is a time of launching a new phase in my life. While nature around me is in harvest and preparation for winter, I have a springtime of new generations being planted.  

This September we are also experiencing a harvest, finishing renovations to the house; we are now sporting a first-floor apartment and Rebecca is moving in. It is always interesting to be eyeing up the completion of a larger project, an additional rush of energy to complete what had been started some time ago. With this completion of a project in sight and the  newness of a “sadhaka in the side-door,” I also feel there is something new with the Work I do for God and Gurus. It is now in the seedling stage, but I feel the hallmarks of its coming.

Every life has beginnings, times of growth and then the harvest or completions built into a natural rhythm. However, due to the fact that many of us live lives insulated from the seasons–work indoors and have jobs that do not reflect changes in nature (50 weeks of regulated hours with 2 weeks of vacation)–it can make us insensate to what should be a natural cycle for the body, mind and soul. This comatose sense of sameness makes us dull to miraculous life occurring all around us.

We thrive best when, like a farmer or gardener, we feel in synch with when it is time to prepare new ground and sow seeds, to water and fertilize those seeds and watch them sprout and grow to the light, gather the fruit of those labors in grateful harvest and then enter a winter-time rest. In that time of rest we focus on the still-state from which all creation comes. And, when God is ready, new cycles of growth begin anew. Of course, life does not always operate in such defined beginnings, middles and ends as a farmer’s life does, but if we pay attention we will see such cycles operating in our lives.   

God creates in you, and you feel a stirring when something new is coming forward. New beginnings are exciting times of discovery, a fresh energy coming into life. Some people hold back from new beginnings because it threatens the status quo, but this blocks the renewal of life—fear becomes a terrible denial of life. Some are good at beginnings, but are not steady in cultivating that new growth, giving the energy over time that is required to bring the creation to fruition. Drawing upon inner strength and determination you overcome all obstacles and bring the creation to its natural completion. In harvest, you celebrate and taste the fruit of creation—you feel the fulfilment of what has been brought about. Some do not take the time for this acknowledgement and celebration but are busy, off on the next thing. It is important to be, even as God is with each stage of creation, standing back and saying, “It is good.” Then comes wintertime rest, deepening contact with God in the still-state, drawing from the all-powerful Spirit, renewing your soul and preparing yourself spiritually for a new season—to dream new dreams.

Your inner spiritual life also goes in such cycles. So, do not become dulled to new life surging forward in your spiritual practice. Be sure to put in the hard work to increase those sacred seeds in their growth, reap the harvest of peace and bliss with joy. Then merge your little self with the Supreme Self in complete stillness. Your spiritual life reflects, like all of life, these cycles—stay alive to your own rhythm of growth so that you may reap the great harvest of fulfillment God has in mind for you.