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Friday, 30 June 2023
On this day of your life
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I believe God wants you to know ... ... that there is
only one way to go, and that's up. I know that it is
possible for life to look, sometimes, as if it's going
downhill, as if everything is falling apart. But consider this: When
life is 'falling apart' things could actually be falling
together...maybe for the first time. Try to not see
things that are not there -- and do not fail to see things that
are... You will not have
to think but a second to know exactly why you
received this message today. |
Going Deep (OM)
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To reach the depth we wish to access, we
must dive below layers to the deepest parts of ourselves. There are times when life urges us to seek
more. Small changes may fail to alleviate stagnancy or frustration, and we
may need to examine our lives and ourselves more deeply to find the right
place to start. Everything we need for success and joy lies within. But so
often, life’s debris accumulates, building layers around our core that make
it difficult to access the truth that resides there. To reach what we wish to
access, we must dive below these layers to the deepest parts of ourselves. The first layer can be found in our minds.
Our to-do lists and busywork are usually less important than we think, so we
must look past them to examine the thoughts that matter most to us. The next
layer can be found in our hearts, where past hurts and disappointments can sometimes
cover up our vulnerabilities, as well as the truth of who and what really
stirs the love within us. We can choose to go even deeper, to our center. If
we can go beyond anything that has affected us to the point that it blocks us
at the gut level, we can reconnect with our power, our raw instincts, our
organic yeses. Here, at the core, lies our truth. Our core is our foundation
that supports us and what we’d like to build our authentic life upon. When we examine ourselves to these depths,
we are able to find what we wish to bring to the surface and what we wish to
let go. When we remember what lies beneath our layers, we can look at what
was floating on the surface, causing blocks and pains, and understand the
purpose that they served. Oftentimes, it is the built-up debris that causes
us to go deeper, so we can search for the truth. Go deep, live life from your
truth within, and watch your innate beauty manifest outward. |
Wisdom Quote
Self-Love
I
had no idea what love was, period, let alone self-love. My sponsor used to tell
me repeatedly "if I talk to my friends the way I talk to myself, I
wouldn't have any friends." But harsh and critical of myself and others
was what love and care looked like in my family of origin.
I
had really terrible self-esteem when I came into CoDA. I can still have rough
days with low self-esteem but today I can recognize that just because I feel
low doesn't mean I am. Who does my program say I am? Am I sure these thoughts
are true, the thoughts that got me swirling around thinking about ending my own
life, and that got me into the mess I was in pre-recovery?
Come
to find out, I didn't feel worthy of "self-love" so that's why I was
making all those poor calls to sabotage myself and stay in situations that
harmed me. More was revealed through working the Twelve Steps, especially Steps
Four through Seven, with a competent sponsor. The muddy water became clear, I
was making all those poor calls to sabotage myself and stay in situations that
harmed me because I didn't "feel" worthy of self-love. But I was
worthy then and I am worthy now. I was told this program is a progression
through higher power-love (Steps One through Three), then into self-love (Steps
Four through Seven) and then out to others (Steps Eight and Nine). I guess
self-love was kind of a gateway. Now it's so clear, I couldn't love anyone
truly until I loved myself.
Anonymous
5/23/2023
NUGGETS OF WISDOM - 943
· “Spirit is the basic personal reality in the universes, and personality is basic to all progressing experience with spiritual reality.”
· What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle. - Rumi
· “No matter how much of God you may attain, there will always remain much more of him, the existence of which you will not even suspect. And we believe that this is just as true on transcendental levels as it is in the domains of finite existence. The quest for God is endless!”
· “Unlike self-criticism, which asks if you're good enough, self-compassion asks, what's good for you?" ~ Kristin Neff
· “Remember all I have taught you and the life I have lived among you. My love overshadows you, my spirit will dwell with you, and my peace shall abide upon you.” - Jesus
· “It is most unfortunate that those who have come to venerate the divine and risen Christ should have overlooked the man—the valiant and courageous hero—Joshua ben Joseph.”
· “A living faith in the superhuman origin of our ideals validates our belief that we are the sons of God and makes real our altruistic convictions, the feelings of the brotherhood of man.”
· “When Material Sons, the biologic uplifters, begin their sojourn on an evolutionary world, their place of abode is often called the Garden of Eden because it is characterized by the floral beauty and the botanic grandeur of Edentia, the constellation capital.”
· “Truly, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the mind of mortal man, the things which the Universal Father has prepared for those who survive the life in the flesh on the worlds of time and space.””
Thursday, 29 June 2023
The Book of Bilaam (MB)
Michael Berg
JUNE 25, 2023
This article is also available in: español | Deutsch | Português Brasileiro | italiano | עברית | français
In a book called Sh’nei Luchot HaBrit from a great kabbalist known as the Sh’la, there is a lengthy but beautiful explanation about the story of Shabbat Balak. It says that in the Talmud where it explains which sage wrote which book in the Bible, it tells us that Moses not only wrote his books - the Five Books of Moses, what we have as the Torah – but he also wrote a separate book called the Book of Bilaam. And this portion is referred to not as a part of the Five Books of Moses, but rather as the revelations of Bilaam. So we have the revelations of Moses, and we have the revelations of Bilaam.
There are many stories in the Torah, such as the killing of Abel by Cain and the uprising of Korach, for instance, that were written down by Moses even though he wasn’t actually involved in them; whether he takes part in them or not, they are all considered to be the revelation of Moses. So, what is unique about this reading is that it is specifically divorced from the writings of Moses and is called the Book of Bilaam – it is the prophecy, or the revelations of Bilaam. And it is considered a very important book… but why?
The Sh’la says that in our world there are two ways for an individual to live his life. Each one of us probably goes back and forth between these two paths. One is called the path of the Right Column, the path of holiness, of spiritual work that leads to a connection with the Light of the Creator, and the other is the path of Left Column, of what’s called the Sitra Achra, the Negative Side.
Most of us know this. We have heard that there are two general paths that an individual can follow in his life: either a spiritual path of transformation and correction that leads us to a connection to the Light of the Creator, or a path of selfishness, of Desire to Receive for the Self Alone, that disconnects us from the Light of the Creator.
Most of us know that piece of information. But then the Sh’la says something that is a tremendous secret. He says that even though there are two paths, both paths lead and unify at their source in a connection to the Light of the Creator. He compares it to two travel paths; let’s say you are leaving the city, and there are two ways out. You can go on the road on the right or the road on the left. They both lead out of the city, but if you follow them backwards, they both come back to the same place. So too, he says, do the path of Right Column and the path of Left Column lead back to their source, to the Light of the Creator, to the End of the Correction.
Therefore, he says that this entire reading, this entire Shabbat, is the connection and revelation of Bilaam concerning the End of the Correction. We know that when a prophet prophesizes, when a righteous person speaks of something, it’s not just that he speaks words of something he doesn’t know; as Rav Ashlag teaches, if a prophet is prophesying, it means he is connecting to it and revealing it. So if Bilaam is prophesying about the End of the Correction, it means that he is connected to, and revealing, the End of the Correction. As such, this Shabbat, the Sh’la tells us, is the experience revealed by Bilaam of the End of the Correction.
We know that Moses saw the same thing Bilaam saw. They both had a direct prophecy and revelation of the End of the Correction, of the complete totality of the revelation of the Light of the Creator in our world. But Bilaam saw it from the Left Path, and Moses saw it from the Right Path. So, if this Shabbat - unlike any other portion of the year - is the Shabbat when the Final Correction is revealed in our world, why is it revealed through Bilaam if Moses can reveal the same thing and had the same connection?
The Sh’la says it is coming through Bilaam because the only path to the End of the Correction is when you take what he calls the prosecutor, or the negativity and darkness, and make it the defender, positivity and Light. Therefore, this Light of the End of the Correction, the path for us to come to the End of the Correction, to the perfection of our own soul and of our world, can only come through Bilaam.
Through this we understand that the only way the End of the Correction can come is when you convert curses to blessings; because only when you unify the two pathways of darkness and Light can the End of the Correction come.
The Sh’la goes on to say that the blessing in this week’s portion that Bilaam gives us is greater than the Light revealed by Jacob to his children, and greater than the blessings that Moses gave the Israelites. And why is that? Because the only way to come to the End of the Correction is to follow this path that can transform darkness into Light.
Therefore, this is the Shabbat of Bilaam because the only path to the End of the Correction is through the path of darkness, through the path revealed by Bilaam, the path that takes the darkness and transforms it into Light. On this Shabbat, Bilaam reveals to us not only the Light of the Final Correction, but also the only path into it.
In the Book of Bilaam is the only time, in the most revealed way, that there is a mention of the End of the Correction. There is a small hint of it in Jacob’s revelation, but here it’s more revealed. “I see it, but it is not now. I have a vision of it, but it is not near.” That’s what Bilaam says in his prophecy. And the great kabbalist, the Or Chaim, Rav Chaim ben Attar, says that this statement of seeing the end but it not being here yet is referring to a famous section in the Talmud, in Sanhedrin, that most of us have probably heard. Rav Ashlag speaks about it a few times - that the end of pain, suffering and death will come in one of two ways: it will either come at the end of what’s called the 6,000 year cycle, in a few hundred years, which is called be’ita, in its time. Or it can come in what’s called achishena, it will come faster.
There is a beautiful statement by Rav Naftali of Rufshitz which I think gives us a clarity of vision about this. He says that the world, or human history, is a cycle. We began at a certain point, and we have to finish that cycle. And that cycle will take us 6,000 years. Therefore, if we let it run its natural course, it will take us another two hundred and something years. But he says that we have the ability to quicken the pace of that cycle.
How do we make it go faster?
The spiritual work that we do brings some Light into our life and into this world, and it will slowly, progressively, bring us all the way to the end of that cycle in a few hundred more years. But if we do not want to wait, the only work that can bring us to achishena, to the End of the Correction, quickly is through the work of transforming darkness into Light. Therefore, I hope we can all come to a certain level of appreciation for the tremendous Light that is available on this Shabbat, and that we can begin to do the real work to bring not only the End of the Correction, but to bring it quickly.
On this day of your life
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I believe God wants you to know ...
... that the
supernatural is the natural not yet understood.
Elbert Hubbard said
that, and he was right. William Shakespeare put it
another way: There are more things in heaven and
earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. All of which is to
say, do not be too surprised by the inexplicable. And
if you've been wondering whether you
can trust this thing called God--the answer is yes. Hey, you asked for
a sign and here it is--literally out of the
blue. So smile. Okay? |
Color Therapy (OM)
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Often, the colors
we like best are the colors we most need in our lives and provide us with
subtle vibrational help. The wondrous displays of color that define
the world around us are manifestations of light, and as such, each possesses
a unique frequency. The attraction we feel to certain colors is not a matter
of chance — we experience the beneficial effects of color even while
blindfolded. We are naturally drawn to those colors that lift our mood,
expand consciousness, and restore health. Color therapy, also known as chromo
therapy, allows us to harness the power of individual color frequencies to
heal the body, positively influence our emotions, and achieve a renewed sense
of inner harmony through sympathetic resonance. It is easy to overlook the colors that
saturate our personal and professional environments. Yet these, whether in
the form of the paint on our walls or the clothing we wear, can influence our
thoughts, behaviors, and feelings to an extraordinary degree. The colors we
like best are often those that we need most in our lives, and there are many
ways we can utilize them. Basking under a colored lightbulb or gazing at an
area of color can stimulate or calm us, depending on the color we choose. For
example, red stimulates the brain, circulatory systems, and first chakra,
giving us an energy boost, while blue acts on the throat chakra, soothing the
body and mind. And when we do not feel drawn to any one color, we can still
benefit from the healing effects of white light, which is an amalgamation of
all the colors of the visible spectrum. It is a cleansing color, one that can
purify us on many levels. Human beings evolved to delight in vivid
sunsets and rainbows, to enjoy the sensations awakened by a particularly
eye-catching color, and to decorate our spaces and ourselves with bright
colors. In essence, we evolved to love the light because of its harmonizing
influence on every aspect of us. When we pay attention to the potential
effects of individual colors, we can modify our spaces, wardrobes, and habits
to ensure that we introduce the colors that speak to us most deeply in our
everyday lives. |
Wednesday, 28 June 2023
On this day of your life
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I believe God wants you to know ... ... that your
kindness has been observed -- and, more than observed, deeply
appreciated -- by another. Sometimes it may
feel as if we go through life and nobody notices any
of the "good" things we do, only the
"bad." It may seem that way, but this is not true. Why, this
very moment someone thought of you, and of a kindness
you have done. Your soul may have
even tingled a little just now. (It does that
when it receives good energy.) So keep sending out
those kindnesses, my friend. You are becoming
known for them... |
Editing Your Life (OM)
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You have the choice to accept the life
script you’ve written thus far or edit it, so you can create a life that
fulfills you. Our lives are like an in-process movie
script that we have complete creative control over. We have the power to
examine what works or isn’t working in our lives and make edits to our life’s
script accordingly. Choosing to actively edit your life can be incredibly
empowering. As you evolve, you have the choice to accept the script you’ve
written thus far or edit it so you can create a life that fulfills you. You
can cut out what is no longer working for you. Acknowledging that you are
responsible for the experience you create gives you the ability to make the
life you’ve always longed for. Granted, editing your real life isn’t
always as easy as erasing a line of text. If you’ve carried emotional baggage
or held on to an unhealthy relationship for a long time, these may be
difficult to edit out. But when you do cut out what isn’t working from your
life, you’ll feel lighter and more alive. Editing out activities that you
find stressful, disassociating yourself from people that drain your energy,
and letting go of your emotional baggage are all beneficial cuts you can
make. In the empty spaces that are left behind, you can add in anything you
like. Just as you have the power to edit out negative situations or beliefs
that you no longer wish to have as part of your life, you can now include the
kinds of positive experiences, people, and beliefs that you would like to
fill your life with. The manifestation of these thoughts and images as
realities in your life will inevitably follow. As you make changes to your
life, you can also add in the bits where you choose more intimate, healthier
relationships, seek out adventure over tedium, and are no longer negatively
impacted by old experiences. To begin editing your life, simply think
about your positive and negative experiences. When you determine what parts
of your life are no longer serving you, make the commitment to remove them —
though it is important to remember that there is no proper timing or way to
do this, and patience and compassion for yourself are always important during
this process. Then, ask yourself what has brought you profound bliss and
consider how you can make those experiences and beliefs part of your life
now. With a little editing, you’ll be able to clear out what is no longer
serving you and make room in your life for more happiness, love, and wisdom. |
NUGGETS OF WISDOM - 942
· What if the worst thing that happened to you turns out to be the best thing that has ever happened to you? - Joe Dispenza
· “The mind is like water. When it's turbulent, it's difficult to see. When it's calm, everything becomes clear.” ~ Prasad Mahes
· “Not only will you find undreamed-of changes confronting you as you advance from circuit to circuit in Havona, but your astonishment will be inexpressible as you progress from planet to planet within each circuit.”
· The end of the war with the mind is the end of war. - Byron Katie
· “Forceful ambition, intelligent judgment, and seasoned wisdom are the essentials of material success.”
· A secret to life: Know that none of this matters, and yet… live as if every single moment does. - Kamal Ravikant
· “Do not hesitate to pray the prayers of spirit longing; doubt not that you shall receive the answer to your petitions.”
· Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. - Helen Keller
Choosing the Path of Love (OM)
Karen Berg
JUNE 25, 2023
This article is also available in: español | Deutsch | Português Brasileiro | italiano | עברית | français
This article on the portion of the week was originally published in 2018.
Meditation is the practice of focusing our consciousness and becoming more aware. Instead of a wavering mind which is like a candle that flickers in the wind, we learn in meditation to be still, to direct and guide our energy. Interestingly, when the candle flame does not flicker, it is able to shine brighter. Meditation is a gift from the sages to assist us on our spiritual path. The sages knew that life had a way of distracting us from discovering our inner world and the powers that reside there. Meditation offers us the quiet to hear our inner voice and, ultimately, connect to the spark of divinity that lies in us all. We all possess a treasure within, however, the outside world can create enough of a distraction for many of us to ignore it, and even be unaware of its existence altogether. For me, spirituality has always been about the revelation of our own Divinity. Spirituality itself is the recognition that all of us on this good earth share a spark of the Divine in our hearts. As Anne Frank said, “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” This week, we are asked by the Universe to focus our attention on what is good and to turn away from negativity. We are called to see the good, to act with goodness, and most importantly to let go of any noise that distracts us from revealing the Divinity inherent within. Like the beauty of the lotus flower that blooms out of the mud, this week our highest chakras are opened as we rise from the negativity that often tries to impede our growth.
"We are called to see the good."
Our roadmap to the energy in the cosmos this week is the story of Balak. A new character emerges. Balak, the king of another nation, heard of the recent victories and miracles of the Israelites and he knew they were blessed people. Feeling that he could be defeated by them, he began a plan to eliminate the Israelites. Balak represents the part within ourselves that hates the things we do not understand or fear. More often than not, instead of learning how to join the game of life, we reject it. Balak decided to procure the power of a negative prophet and an evil magician named Bilaam to assist him. Even though Bilaam was negative, he still had an inner voice and consciousness from Divinity. He did not agree to join forces with Balak at first, but eventually acquiesced to assist him. The two conspired to annihilate the Israelites, but their plan did not work. For the Creator’s protection was with the Israelites. Every time Bilaam sought to curse them with his magic, the curse turned into a blessing instead. Bilaam was hateful and evil, but inside there lived the Light of the Creator that he could not ignore. Bilaam struggled to reveal this Light, for he had allowed mud and hatred to dominate him. After three attempts to curse the Israelites, all of which failed, Bilaam went through a spiritual transformation and eventually blessed them. Balak was furious and broke all ties with him. Bilaam battled and succeeded to reveal his force of love, in spite of his hatred and evil. At the end, with the help of the Creator, he was able to awaken the Light within to create blessings, rather than curses. It is a truly beautiful and powerful story. A message for us all.
As always, the Torah is our mirror. It is our history, and our future. We read about ourselves. This week, we can develop a practice of excavating the diamonds buried in our hearts. Bilaam and Balak are each of us, but so too, is the Creator, thankfully. The lotus flower blooms in spite of its murky waters. We do have feelings of fear, jealousy, and hatred, but we can see that these qualities do not serve us. We must let them go if we wish to experience the joy and blessings the Universe wishes to bestow on us. Hatred is poison that we take ourselves, expecting the other person to die. It is only in our own best interest to be willing to let go of negativity, even if we feel justified in holding on to it. If we are open to focusing our energy on the good that is within, and cease feeding the negativity that lies on the outside, we will be able to give birth to a higher and new level of consciousness. This gift of Self-Realization is ours this week, and with it comes a multitude of blessings. The world is our mirror. If we output and focus on love, we create a world of love. It is we who benefit from our own acts of kindness, more than even the recipient. There are choices in life, and what path we choose to walk down is only up to us. We all wish to be happy and experience peace and joy. If we can ask the Creator this week to help us choose the path of love, I know we will be given the support and strength to do so.
"The Light is everywhere."
This week, I encourage you to engage in the ancient tool of meditation. Find a room that is quiet where you feel safe. Light a candle and sit down beside it. Uncross your arms and legs. Take a few slow inhalations and exhalations. Close your eyes and travel within. The candle flame is steady, and it glows brightly. Become more aware of your essence. Inside resides Divinity. Love beats within. A love for the world and for every soul begins to awaken. The differences between our fellow man do not matter as much as how much we are alike.
Choose to focus on all the goodness that exists in the world, and within yourself. Remember that the Light is everywhere. To connect with it, we need only acknowledge it. For there is a profound spiritual truth that pervades the cosmos this week and all weeks: When you see only the good, you will experience only goodness.
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