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As
the years cycle comes to an end and
we stand amidst the ensuing chaos of our world
we have decisions to make on how to navigate
through the unknown. Each
of us is on our own peculiar journey walking at
our own pace, in our way, and for our own purposes.
We may even wander for a while to create and play
on several potential paths depending upon our personal
circumstances and the political schemas that shape
our lives. Sometimes we come to roadblocks and need
to re-evaluate the direction of our lives, simplify
and let go to flow into new uncharted territory.
This requires flexibility, as flow follows the path
in a spiral of least resistance revealing higher
pathways. While the Higher Paths are not mutually
exclusive, they follow a pattern. Thus, it is wise
to understand the characteristics and utility of
each path even though we needn’t remain on
any particular one for a lifetime.
The first step on any path is a defining moment
in our lives as it offers a critical source of energy
that motivates and informs us. It is a flowing feeling
of raw determination that calls us to action. We
feel its presence in the witness of suffering, abuse,
or blatant rights violations that are so prevalent
of our times. Our senses overload, perhaps with
the sight of poverty, the smell of sewage, the sound
of pain, anger and voices of media propaganda to
inflate fear, and for some the touch of loneliness.
Our hearts feel full from relentless and pervasive
suffering and we take flight through a shifting
of paradigm.
We have taken the first step and are motivated
beyond the known onto the formless Path of Spirit.
This realm is beyond the Matrix as it reflects
a sense of some greater power--the all embracing
love of a higher truth. The path of Spirit is
the culmination, combination, and creation of
all other paths, inspiring service, ethics of
goodness, generating love, and motivating passion,
all of which have been abused beyond recognition
as an assertion of righteousness, control, manipulation
and selfishness. For those of us who follow
this path with care and discriminating wisdom,
we find that it is an exquisite teacher of devotion
and surrender. |
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We may feel so in-spirited to take the Path of Service
that we commit and direct our focus with dedicated
and generous action towards the welfare of others.
The highest aspirations of advocacy are rooted in
this path, since the very purpose of advocacy is achieving
the goals and protecting the rights of those on whose
behalf we advocate. This extraordinarily fulfilling
pursuit is commonly walked by many in our community
in their selfless desire to assist others. The appreciation
of our own situation in contrast to someone else's
challenging circumstances, low self-worth or the inability
to take care of them selves can similarly propel us
onto this path. However, it can, like any path, be
corrupted by alternative purposes, such as self-aggrandizement
or a psychological need for recognition and affirmation.
The
emotional roots, relational context, and out-pouring
of affection to others often expressed as passion
is about unremitting love that is the ideal along
the Path of Heart. The inspiration for this path
is not about ideas or strategic objectives, or winning
or losing, but of connection and inter-relatedness.
Through contrast it shows us how we are all connected--that
what divides us from one another are disabilities
or circumstances, not any deep truth or difference.
At the deepest level we are all quite similar with
circumstances that create the illusion of difference.
The recognition of circumstance and sameness is
at the core of this path, which provides the grist
for a true expression of the heart.
In
Service I AM,
Rev. Alisa Battaglia
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“Just
look at us. Everything is backwards; everything
is upside down. Doctors destory health,
lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy
knowledge, governments destroy freedom,
the major media destroy information and
religions destroy spirituality.”
— Michael Ellner
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