Chapter 16: Setting Your Ideals in Accord with Spirit

After having spent the summer in Colorado I am always anxious to get some beach time.  I love the water.  BRC and I just spent some time in California visiting a friend in Ojai and family in Encinitas.  We visited a beautiful place called Meditation Mountain, but I was struck by the thought that all places are "meditation mountains" if we set our minds to be so.  It is always our choice.

The content of this chapter was a bit of a challenge for me.  I have always been more of a "go with the flow" person than a goal setter which may explain some aspects of my life.  What are my ideals?  I think of my ideals as the inner code I operate by.  I want my ideals to relate to me and my life, not be some unobtainable, unrealistic ideals, but they do need to be attuned to a higher level of consciousness.  If my ideals are too limiting I will restrict myself.  I strive to be about growth, so why should I define my ideals?  The book states your ideals are the standards by which you make your choices, like a road map to help you get to your destination; they are the attitudes by which you live; they determine the path and direction in which you are moving in consciousness; they determine what and whom you attract; and your ideals provide the balancing tie among body mind and soul.  After reading this chapter I appreciate the importance of defining my ideals.  How do I do this?

The book gives an Ideals Workshop which will be difficult to explain here.  Basically you pick an area in your life that you want to enhance such as partner, self, children, job, etc.  You then select a spiritual ideal such as love, truth, hope, patience, etc.  The third selection is of a mental idea which is a "be-attitude" such as be-loving, be-kind, be-forgiving, etc.  Step number 4 is to select a physical ideal which is what you will be "do"ing to bring into manifestation on the physical plane the spiritual and mental ideals that you have set for this area of your life such as using my ears to listen to my partner or
using my body to exercise. Every person's ideal workshop would look different, tailored to your life.

The book relates multiple benefits for setting my ideals to the highest levels which I can conceive:
   - Enable me to change my consciousness by establishing guideposts for living in accord with my Higher Self and so change my life for the better.
   -Set a definite direction for my pathway of life and provide a guide for making the best possible decisions.
    -Help in resolving the difficult areas of my life.
    -Bring me joy and contentment.
I think I have some work to do.

Chapter 15: Finding Your Life's Purpose

Bill and I are getting settled in Las Vegas for the winter.  We managed to escape Colorado without having to drive in snow.  This makes me happy.  The trees were magnificent in color when we left.  We felt a lot was accomplished this summer and now the ranch will rest along with us for the winter.  Our life in Las Vegas is much simpler in many ways, a different kind of productive.

I read this quote last night and was surprised by the author:
“A human being is part of the whole, called by us “universe,” limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a prison,restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons close to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from our prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all humanity and the whole of nature in its beauty.”~Albert Einstein
I guess I didn't think of Einstein sharing metaphysical thoughts.  
What is my purpose in life?  Who amongst us has not anguished over this?  This is what the next chapter addresses. 

Just the title of this chapter alone sounds overwhelming.  I used to worry that I wasn't fulfilling my life's purpose and then I thought I really don't even know what I think my purpose is.  I thought BRC probably had his life's purpose typed out or filed in his file cabinet.  Lol.  Once I figured out what my life's purpose was I was able to adjust my focus towards that goal.  Everyone has their own, unique purpose.  How do you go about finding yours if you haven't figured it out already?

The book states that your life has a purpose which is based on the principles set forth by the Universal Laws.  When you know your life's purpose you can more effectively and consistently apply the Universal Laws to achieve that purpose.  We all share a common purpose which is to manifest the god or goddess you really are.   I like that.  You also came into this life for a purpose that is unique to you.   You have a mission your soul has come here to accomplish.  Your mission is related to your unique talents, qualities and characteristics.  Your unique gifts are represented by the things you love to do.  These things should be a part of your life's purpose.  If you can get on the track that is right for you, you can save a lot of time looking and searching for you-know-not-what. 

The book provides an exercise or workshop for finding your life's purpose.  It is too hard to explain here on the blog.  Part 1 is Determining your own basic Purpose by asking yourself "what is my life's basic purpose?"  Part 2 is Determining your Mission in Life by asking yourself "Which of my natural qualities or spirit do I most love to use in my life?"  Part 3 is to Determine your talents and abilities by asking "What talents, abilities, or other means of expression should I use in my life?"  You then put all three parts together and you have your life's purpose. 

If you are not aware of your talents the book suggests making a list of things you love to do, limiting the list to those activities that create an excitement in you at the mere thought of them.  Do not judge any of the ideas that come to mind.  You can do this daily or whenever a thought comes to you.  This exercise is to stimulate your creative mind.  The number of ways you can express yourself by doing what you love has no limit.  Using your creativity to produce these ideas is one way to experience the abundance of the Universe. 

I believe my purpose is to become the goddess I am meant to be.  I know I have a mission  in being of service to others.  When I combine these together using my unique talents and abilities I feel my connection to this Universe and to Humankind. 

Chapter 14: All the Answers

We are beginning the process of closing up Carpenter Mountain for the winter. I can't believe how fast this summer passed for me. Fall makes me feel "feisty", Jillian laughs at that, but I do feel so much more energy. I love the warm days, the cool nights, the colors, the food, and so much about this time of year.

I think we as human beings are always in search of answers, I know I am. Where do I find reliable sources for my answers? So many times I look outside of myself when the answers were here all along. Jillian and I were talking about how it is easier to see solutions to a situation when you are not emotionally or physically involved. How do we attune ourselves to the solutions? This is what this next chapter addresses.

Chapter 14: All the Answers. The Universal Laws can guide us to reliable sources. The book addresses three laws that define how to get the guidance you need. The first law of guidance is "Seek First the Spirit Within and You will Find". If you know you have a need, you then can seek an answer. The law does not operate if you rely just on yourself for the answer. The search needs to be on a spiritual level in order to seek the pattern we wish to manifest. Our mind can then build from this perfect pattern, the perfect result in the spiritual, mental or physical. This result will be right for us and for others. It will have come from the higher source within us that knows all there is to know. I need to trust in Spirit and the Universal Laws rather than in self and expect to find what I seek. This seeking needs to be in a balanced manner and be open to receiving answers from many different sources. I need to remember I am a unique individual and what is right for me is not necessarily right for someone else.

The second Law of Guidance is "Ask the Spirit with Faith and You Will Receive" The book defines faith as the ability to perceive that anything is possible through the infinite power and wisdom of Spirit working through the Universal Laws. The answer to every problem is to discover the truth about it. That sounds simple enough, to find out the truth about it.  Sometimes it depends on who's truth.  I need to make sure it is the truth for me.  The only viewpoint from which I can see the truth and learn its lesson is to reach a consciousness that is higher than the one from which I created the problem. To go higher I must seek Spirit.
Spirit knows what I need but leaves it up to me to invite it to be a part of my life by asking. In this way Spirit knows I are willing to make use of whatever I request. By using my mind to decide what to ask I am working as a co-creator.

The third Law of Guidance states "Knock, With Faith in Spirit, and the Door will be Opened". You knock by accepting and using what you find or receive. You have the free will, the final decision on whether to use what you have found or received. If you do use what you have received or found your consciousness will be opened to a greater understanding and to a higher consciousness. Sometimes it is a matter of letting go of things that were previously safe for us. Again, trusting in the Divine Wisdom to do what is perfect for us at that time.

How can I help myself to be attuned? The book suggests prayer, meditation and faith, but recognizes that we each will have our own way. I need to be attuned to listening the answers, to expect answers if I have earnestly seeked guidance. Be aware that no matter what form of guidance you use, your strongly held opinions and prejudices can distort the results if you are not fully attuned. Know that guidance from Spirit will never condemn nor judge you or others or suggest that you take advantage of someone or require that you harm yourself or another in any way-any such advice would not be from your Higher Self.

The book offers a warning through this transition phase. "Through the thousands of past choices you have made, you have established your life as it exists today. You have yet to experience the results of many of your choices. Once you open yourself to a higher consciousness, you will have the opportunity to deal with many of the experiences you have created. Life may suddenly seem to be filled with more and greater difficulties. Remember though, you are not alone, you have new strength and guidance."   I know that I can tend to take the easy path, but when I am willing to do the necessary work, the results are far greater and more meaningful. 

Chapter 13: Making the Right Choices for Your Life

I have been enjoying being in the mountains of Colorado this summer. Thanks to BRC I was able to spend a few days in Vail and hike around the mountains. The aspen forest was amazing. When I returned I was reading a newsletter I received and this affirmation that was included:
"On this day, I will receive all that brings me joy and light and love. I will not allow this day to destroy my dreams, my hopes, my wants, or my desires. I embrace this day with the fullness of my divinity and no other way shall it be. For I no longer choose to learn the hard way. I no longer choose to run into the brick wall in my manifestations, in my reactions, and in my beliefts. I choose with the dignity of a Being of Light" Being of Light, I love this. "But I will fly with winged freedom above what keeps me so limited. For it is only I and not another that clips the wings of my soul and of my dreams" For me that is what this cosmic consciousness is all about.

Chapter 13: Making the Right Choices for your Life. We need to keep our minds attuned to the Spirit within. The Law of Choice states "Life is the Experience of Your Choices". How is this related to karma? Is our life predestined? If I now view the laws from a higher perspective, following my inner guidance given a choice will I do it the way I have choosen in the past or will I choose a higher way, that of the Spirit within me? This law of choice is telling us that if we wish to change our lives, we must change our choices. We have no choice for we always choose from the level of consciousness that we hold at the time of our choice, so if our level has not changed, the result will not change. If we wish to choose a higher way, we must prepare ourselves by working to raise our consciousness from the present lesser patterns to the perfect patterns in accord with our inner guidance. The real choice is to choose to change our consciousness.

The Master Law of Attunement: "If you will be my people, I will be your God". God can be whatever you choose to call the Creator, the divine within, Spirit. This law implies that if we choose to depend on ourselves-our wills and our ideas, manipulating or trying to control others-that is all we have. If we put our faith and trust in Spirit or the Creative Force, as a co-worker, we will be taken care of. I love being a co-worker with Spirit. I remember when I was young and the phrase to "instill the fear of God". I do not think I am to be fearful of the Divine forces. As Bill often reminds me, it is about love, not fear. How much more can we accomplish with love instead of fear? As you put Spirit first you will be cared for. Are you willing to accept yourself as a goddess that is your birthright to be? If you so choose Spirit is bound to the relationship by this law and becomes your source and supply. The choice is always yours.

The Law of Supply: Seek...First the Spirit within and all things shall be added you have need of. How do I seek the Spirit first? The book states I need to tune in to its frequency (vibration). We receive what we are attuned to. I think I miss alot by being distracted by things of the world. How am I to hear if I am not listening? This chapter states we can learn to attune to the vibrations which are the essence of the God force within us. As we attune to the Spirit, we are establishing a relationship with Spirit. The kind of relationship depends on you. This can be a very intimate relationship if that is what you wish. Several methods of attunement are discussed: Meditation; Prayer; Study of Dreams; Service to Others; Define Your Life's Purpose; Establish your Ideals; Laws of Guidance. My motto for this year is Onward and Upward..."I will fly with winged freedom".

Chapter 12: Consciously Creating Results with the Master Law of Manifestation

I just returned from a week in Las Vegas with Bill and Jillian celebrating my birthday. We had a great time. I really concentrated on not worrying which is big for me. I have been thinking about all the knowledge from this book and now how do I apply what I have been learning. I know that being aware or having cosmic consciousness is one of the first steps, but I am ready to be of action. This chapter discusses how we create the physical results in our lives. The following is the Master Law of Manifestation:

SPIRIT IS THE LIFE.
MIND IS THE BUILDER.
PHYSICAL IS THE RESULT.

Spirit, mind and body are the basic elements of our being. First the book discusses Spirit is the life. The spirit is the soul, it is the beginning and end of all self-development. We were Spirit in the beginning, now Spirit and body and will be Spirit again. Spiritual consciousness operates at a different frequency or vibration than mental consciousness. Spirit is the life force that permeates every cell of our body and mind. The spirit force is also the creative force in your life. How you use this creative life force determines what you will be and what your experiences will be. This Law is the natural flow of the life force, of the energy with which we live and move and have our being. As previous chapters have stated the Spirit is not out there somewhere, it is within us right now. No one has more or less, we each have what we need. If you are in harmony with the Universal Laws, you have all the power of those laws. Power means infinite ability to express ability, capability, flexibility, sensibility, lovability, etc. Spirit is the infinite power of the universe. Spirit is the life. The mental or physical point of view limits us, Spirit has no limits. Attune your mind to a higher level, into a spirit of abundance. Abundance is the natural state of the Universe, there are no limits.

Mind is the builder. What does that mean? Our minds are the connecting force between the spirit. The purpose of our minds is to bring manifestations into our experience. Humans, through exercising free will often choose to misdirect and divert the power of Spirit to selfish purposes, thereby building negative and destructive forms of spirit, such as selfishness, hate, envy, etc. The result comes from what your mind is attuned to while it builds. Your will is the master of your mind if you choose to make it so. The book points our our minds are often attuned to the consciousness of the world outside of us instead of our own Spirit. That reminds me of the saying "be in the world, not of the world." The truth is you are a Child of God,of the Divine, not the negative energy of the mass consciousness. You can release the negatives of the world and let the goddess you are shine forth. I love that.

Physical is the Result. Our physical body is the result of our application of this law as is our material success. The spirit, mind and body are all interconnected. This again is about taking responsibility for our own lives.

Living in the Flow. To be living in the flow is to be so in accord with the principles and purposes of the Universe that you begin to experience in your life the highest good for yourself and others. The book states that Being in attunement with Spirit and in accord on all three levels is the secret of being in the flow with life and the Universe. Again the spirit is the starting point of it all, the key. The laws have to be lived on all three levels, spirit, mind and body, to not disrupt the flow.

So the real question is what will you build within yourself? Will you take the high road? The choice is always yours. You must choose your own purpose and the consciousness from which you act: these are the keys to the result. With these keys and this law you can consciously create the desired results in your life.

Chapter 11: Laws of Self

Today I was sent this inside an email:
Young souls learn to accept responsibility for their actions.
Mature souls learn to accept responsibility for their thoughts.
And old souls, learn to accept responsibility for their happiness.
If you can't be there for yourself, who will be there for you?

Here we go with the chapter that still makes the little girl inside of me think not to be selfish. That was clearly instilled into me. I think it is part of my culture, but this chapter is not talking about “selfish” but self love and that is so different. I think it took me half a century to figure that out, that I deserved to think about myself first and my place in the Universe.

To fully understand the higher Universal Laws begins with the laws of self. Understanding of all truth is found in self. I discussed this in Chapter 10, finding the divine wisdom within yourself and reconnecting. You are the most important person in the world. Are you doing your job or are you trusting someone else to do it for you? One of the greatest mistakes you can make in trying to know yourself is to compare yourself with others. Where you are as compared to someone else is not important. The Spirit within does not judge you, but knows rather the infinite potential that exists within you. No judgement, isn't that amazing?

There are several laws of self, the first one is the Law of Individuality: As you honor, respect,and love your own unique individuality, so you honor, respect, and love the individuality of others. Your individuality is your real self, your soul. Only to the degree you know and love your individuality can you truly know and love others. Service to others is one of the basic requirements for spiritual growth. Effective service is the expression of our individuality.

The second is the Law of Equality based on the understanding that all of us come from the same source, we are all created equal children of God. The law reads: Your true needs, wants, desires, hopes, dreams, wishes, and their fulfillment are as important as those of any other soul in existence.

The next is the Law of Priority: You must first "save" self if you would "save" another. Your body is truly the temple of your soul. Take care of your body and mind first and foremost, not just when something goes wrong. Our purpose on earth in essence is to "save self", if you neglect self for "saving" another you have defeated your purpose. This honors the divinity within yourself.

So how do I apply these laws? The book states I am to give of myself in any activity only to that point at which I do not feel depleted-physically, mentally or emotionally. It is important to love and nurture yourself as much as you love and nurture anyone else. I know I have struggled with this as I feel I have been rewarded for caring more for others at times. This doesn't mean I have to stop doing but be more in balance with myself. it is arrogant to believe that you can do something for another that the person is not capable of doing for her or himself, but that does not mean that I cannot be of service. Service is essential to our growth. I need to be of service when someone asks for help, I can then respond to their request within my own boundaries. As you live in accord with the laws of self and value others as you value self, you become selfless. I need to trust the spiritual power within to guide me.

The next law discussed in the chapter is the Law for Manifestation of Your Higher Self which reads As you put the God within first in your life, so you manifest the God you are. Accept that you have that God Presence within. Acknowledge that you are a spiritual being by living that concept. As we begin to put Spirit first, we begin to think as a God, to love as God and to live as the goddess or god we are.

The last law is the Law of Mastery of Self which reads As you become master of your lower self, so all things, conditions, and elements become subject unto you. As you release the fears, anxiety, guilt, shame, and other negative aspects of your lower self you release these thoughts explaining that you do not need them anymore because you know a higher thought. As you become selfless you master self. As you become master of self you become the goddess or god you are meant to be, with all things, conditions, and elements subject to you. There are no limits.

Chapter 10: Why You Are Here

Chapter 10: Why You are Here

It is beautiful up here on Carpenter Mountain Ranch this summer. With the rain and the sun we have an abundance of wildflowers. The pine beetles are making their presence known, looking out over the valley about 15% of the trees are rust colored.
I am so grateful to be able to live here. I also feel this way about living on this Earth. Who of us has not asked, "why am I here?" I used to think I would be able to list "why I am here" on a piece of paper, but through my process of discovery I have narrowed it down to: I am here to become the goddess I am meant to be. How am I going to do this? I believe by re-establishing by connection with the Divine wisdom (the Creator), believing in this wisdom, having cosmic consciousness I can seek the high road to find joy, peace and purpose in my life.

Chapter 10 discusses Why You Are Here in accordance with the Universal Laws. If we do not understand our own nature and our purpose for being our lives will hold only limited meaning and we can find little true fulfillment. This knowledge will assist us in our transformation. As far as the Universal Laws are concerned it does not matter what your God-concept is. I do not seek to define God for that limits God, but I do need an understanding. For me Spirit is the source of light which is the source of Divine. I believe there is one Spirit, we are forms of the One Spirit. We are portions of God, you can call it a child of God or whatever suits you. You are a soul. This chapter talks about four great gifts.

The first great gift is that you were made in the image of Spirit. It was your soul which was made in the image of your Creator, not your body or your mind. Your soul is actually a portion of the Divine. This means that we carry the divine portion with us always. We do not need to go looking for God for it is within ourselves when we choose to attune to it. We are sparks of light, with the ability of creation and with knowledge of God. This means you have everything within yourself to make your life perfect realizing that "perfect" means exactly the right thing at the exactly the right time and place for the greatest good for self and others.

The second great gift is that we are endowed with life and consciousness. We have minds and consciousness enabling us to be aware of ourselves and others and of our existence. This allows are consciousness to know that we are not the whole but part of the Creator. Consciousness is not a function of our minds but of our soul. I call this Cosmic Consciousness.

The third great gift is that as souls we are eternal. There is no death. What we experience as a death is but a transition to another step into fulfillment of our purpose. We are never given more than what we can handle as long as we trust in Spirit. We are never left to go it alone.

The fourth great gift is that our souls are endowed with free will. With free will we can do whatever we choose to do with the gifts we have been given. This applies whether on this earth or in any other plane of existence. We still have to operate within the laws of the Universe. Your will is greater than any other influence in your life, by your will, you can proceed in accord with such patterns or counteract them as you choose.

The book discusses that we as souls lost our awareness of our own divine nature. To re-establish this connection to have Divine wisdom to guide us we need to attune ourselves, our vibrations, our consciousness to greater awareness of the Divine within. As we follow this guidance, our lives become more fulfilling, more satisying, more meaningful, more worthwhile.

The book states that without the infinite wisdom of the Divine within to lead us, we rely solely on intellect for guidance. Since intellect does not have the overall picture, we create difficulties and situations that are not completely fulfilling or satisfying. Our earthly experience is designed to bring us to the realization that we have a higher purpose than merely living life. We need to re-establish the connection with the Divine wisdom to guide us.

Which leads me back to becoming the goddess I am meant to be. What will this cost me? I give up nothing except pain and sorrow, struggle and fear. I move my limits from not knowing, now being aware, to the potential for knowing and complete awareness-to peace and joy, abundance and fulfilling relationships and happiness. It is the ultimate transformation, it is the high road of life.