Saturday, August 31, 2013

Solar Return




And yet another solar return comes to greet me and I find myself utterly delighted still to be here.  Forty-seven years have passed since I ventured to join the populace here and I can honestly say I regret not one single minute ultimately.  I’m reminded that we all have our time here and fortunately free will dictates we may spend it as we deem most worthy.  I’m sad a little when I think back to how I spent much of my time here.  There was this battle or that battle for nothing but pole position, status, stature or fending off the complaints of another’s illusions.  They were never mine for clearly I’ve often held my own to no avail.  Until now that is.

Another year older and hopefully at least a little bit wiser I realize just how much we create for ourselves here.  We are not some puppet dangled on strings held by some unknowable force we must fear to be ensured of a blissful eternity.  We are at the mercy of much out of our control but perhaps that is a beautiful gift and not a curse.  We have here at our disposal one of the greatest tools in the universe, love and another, compassion and yet another, gratitude.  These gifts are of immeasurable value and worth more than anything anyone could ever give you.  In fact, these things cannot truly be given for their full meaning to become completely apparent within us.  Each soul much find the truth of these gifts or tools in order for their lives to be forever transformed for good and yes I did say good and that is a bit of a judgment.  Without the ability to let these things well from deep within we are blocked, stagnant and stuck in one drama after another without any way to get out.  Not much fun is it being trapped in prisons of our own design.  A beautiful moment is it when a single soul on the planet sets him or herself free through this glorious understanding.

There is a maple tree just outside my living room window.  It’s old, tall and so very wise.  Its leaves are still at the moment soaking in precious life-giving sunlight as the sun makes its way up over the building across from me.  There is no sea breeze this morning which means it will be another hot day in paradise.  I long to hear the sound of the wind rustling in this beautiful tree’s leaves.  It’s like beautiful music akin to rushing water when I close my eyes.  I hug her when I know my neighbors are busy with other things because she gives so much to our little courtyard and her sister right across, another gorgeous tree that brings shade and emerald green to fill our field of vision daily.  Such simple things in life to appreciate have I and I’m glad.  Yes, I’m a tree hugger.  You can’t possibly be surprised. (smiles)

As I sit here in the quiet and yet growing light I realize that there has been much in my life that’s gone by underappreciated but I’m growing still and learning to understand ever more that which has vexed me to my core and crumpled me in pain for seemingly nothing have been my life’s greatest gifts.  I’ve learned that human love is imperfect and fallible until each human taps that true Source love within.  And then they harm another soul no longer because they know each wound they inflict with careless words harms not only the intended recipient but themselves as well.  Would that I could wake the entirety of the populace to this oh-so-very-important fact.  But, that’s not my job.  My job is not to save the world but to live in it and save myself from succumbing to negative vibration, despair and hopelessness that abounds when least a soul might expect it.  No chance of those negative things today.  I’m happy to be here on planet Earth.  Big white puffy clouds crawling across pure cerulean blue puts such a smile on my face.  I could watch in awe for hours on end and do every chance that I get.

Soon the loves in my house will stir beyond just me and my faithful furry little protector Zacky the Cat.  The coffee tastes better today for some reason.  Perhaps it is my gratitude is open wide, as is my heart and my hopes for my dreams.  I’m watching them manifest here one now by one.  Tears of joy escape my curious eyes so often I notice as each year passes.  I’m grateful for that now too. Count your blessings today and each day that follows.  Let that gratitude within you awaken your love and then soon after, compassion.  Your life too will be transformed and understanding will dawn at every turn just like the sun on this hot summer morning.  ~Blessed be each and every soul on the planet.  I wish you love, joy and the infinite power to manifest your deepest dreams now.


© 2013 Jaie Hart (photo, gorgeous random internet find)
 

Life Giving Planet



Pure white clouds scattered across a glorious blue sky
I sit in morning’s soft early light in silent contemplation
Love fills the air in earnest
And hopes for another beautiful day
In this paradise we call Earth
It’s easy to forget her beauty
To take all of the things she gives us for granted
We would have not one thing here without her
No clothing, no shelter, no food, air or water
We can do so much more to take care of her
These are my thoughts for the day
Sending love out to our beautiful life sustaining planet
Praying for everyone of her beautiful inhabitants
May they all find gratitude, healing, love and peace

© 2013 Jaie Hart (photo, random internet find)

Friday, August 30, 2013

Endeavor to Change



Watching high clouds stretched across cerulean blue, I breathe in one single moment of peace.  So much chaos does this bright big and beautiful world hold just now but we don’t have to ignore it or become ensnared by it.  There are many other ways we can work with what we have to engage in the change in the world we most wish to see.  We start small with one simple step.  We start within.  How can we expect the world to change when we, ourselves, have not sincerely endeavored to gain for ourselves any sustainable change?  The matters of who is right and who is wrong can be argued into eternity and in so doing, we wholly miss the point of existence.  When we cross over from this world into the next, it is not right or wrong beliefs you stood for that will help you.

Stepping back again to gain a greater view of beautiful skies on this warm summer night, I realize I’m feeling the turmoil of conflict that exists in this world.  I cannot endeavor to change the turmoil outside of myself.  As powerful as I know I may be, I do not have that much power.  I do know that I am infinitely empowered in how I choose to look at and interpret what I see as I experience life.  I cannot explain any reality away that others face so painfully and with much suffering but I can rise above that to a place where I can see it differently.  I can choose to see all involved in conflict, strife, turmoil and suffering through the eyes of love.  I can seek to hold fast to a vision of how things should be and then realize I must attend to those same causes within me in need of healing.  I cannot change the world.  To do so would impose upon the free will of others and like it or not, I must respect free will. But I can impose change in myself; I can change me.  I can engage in bolstering strength to those who seek to make a difference.  I can send them love, energy, money, volunteer or do whatever else it takes for me to transform feelings of powerlessness to usefulness.  I know as surely as I am breathing in this now beautiful moment that there is nothing powerless within me.

The colors of the sun have come alive now painting the tips of the clouds in fiery neon pink and orange.  A beautiful sight to behold and I realize what an amazing world this is and how challenging and difficult our opportunities for learning are.  I realize my only real option in this moment is that I must hold all in a state of compassion and strive to understand that which I do not.  I only think I understand this framework.  My ego thinks it has the right to judge even that which there is no way it could truly understand.  Thanks be I can muster at least this realization.  I’m tired of thoughts.  

It is the evening on what would have been my father’s 68th birthday.  He should be here but isn’t due to his own internal turmoil and chaos.  Would that I could speak with him face to face one more time, I’d say not one word in that conversation.  I’d merely hold him so very tightly and let him know that I loved him and understood him.  I’d thank him for being my father and teaching me to see every story from every side and for the ability to ask all of the questions I continue to ask.  A philosophical mind did he encourage in me and I am infinitely grateful.  No turmoil or chaotic thoughts for me just now gazing at a beautiful sunset yet again.

The world will continue turning on her axis and as the night fades to daylight I’ll welcome my own solar return once again.  My forty-seventh, as a matter of fact and  I’m feeling so grateful and blessed to be a part of the Earth School at this precious moment in time.  I send out my love, my hopes and healing across the globe and to the hearts of men making big decisions with far reaching consequences.  I send the same to every soul.  May you all be blessed with infinite love and light forever. 

(c) 2013 Jaie Hart (photo, fortunate random internet find  - the birth of a star - hope for new beginnings).

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Superiority? Really? Let's Think This Through





For reasons I don’t understand I’m called to look back into history in order to try to discern how and why women became regarded as property and of value only to the extent men wished them to bear children.  I am not a feminist (but do not begrudge them at all) but a soul who finds great distaste in any form of oppression of souls condemned to be lesser by those who foist themselves up as greater.  Call it a character flaw if you will but it discomforts me greatly to see such a long history of abuse that is still often perpetuated today.  In History as a Weapon by Howard Zinn, you can see in the United States at least in its very early beginnings, the dismal manner in which women were treated merely because they were women.  Then a quick glance around the internet and we see that many women around the world throughout history were great leaders.  A quick excerpt of many of them can be found at http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/rulers.html.  So I wonder, why, why were women treated so horribly?  Why were women singled out to become mere property and other too dismal to expand upon objects? It’s really a question there is no answer to other than in my own opinion, fear and stupidity.

In my querying I mean to position neither of the sexes as superior to the other but to point out that mistreatment based on sex alone, religion alone or culture alone is of the same ilk…fear and stupidity.  I usually keep my opinions to myself but I’m bothered by mistreatment of any class for any reason.  The depth of which this subject bothers me is I see it in the world, I see it in my own neighborhood and I hear it on the news which I try hard not to watch (but since others do and talk about it, I still must hear the horrors perpetuated by the unaware and woefully unawakened).  As much as it disappoints and even at times causes me much pain, I cannot sink to the same level as those who created the problems to begin with.  I will not hate.  It’s just a personal commitment I have made to myself.  I will become not one bit a part of the problem but I cannot stand by and watch it consistently perpetuated and have no feelings either - I think.  I can pray or join an organization and stand with greater voices and numbers to help decry the wrongs and strive to help put them right through education but never ever could I engage in the violence so many choose when feeling as I do just now. 

I see the reports of youth carrying out random acts of violence based solely on color of skin or choice of romantic entanglement and it makes me want to cry.  Why do we raise a whole generation of children perpetuating even more fear and loathing of our racial, religious, sexual or political differences?  We could accomplish so much more in this world if we stood together side by side in the one manner that unifies every single one of us on the planet.  I refer to us all being members of the human race.  If we stood together unified, without any fear of each other or without the need for control by the men declaring superiority over the women, or the white declaring supremacy over the black or the perfectly religious over those wrongly considered mere and vile pagans, we might be able to help each other through this thing we call life.

I realize that the incredulous feeling that rises within me is merely yet another message from me to me for me to figure out and better understand. I have great capacity for understanding both the oppressors and the oppressed but where does that leave me other than greatly conflicted as I read of or learn about the latest heinous activity committed during the day?  Why can we not have a society in which everyone has a better and more equal role?  We are so smart and resourceful today.  Why can we not find a way to use the strength of that intelligence and resourcefulness to teach our children to choose love over hate, to stand up for what is morally right, to live in this world giving their best to contribute to the human race as a whole rather than to just a select few deemed worthy only by a select few who claim worthiness to determine worthiness?

I grew up very poor in the welfare system.  My parents were uneducated and unable to cope with the intricacies of the workings of the world in which they found themselves.  They were looked down upon by others because they were good looking people but were so very poor.  Under-performers were they judged and maybe that was so but they had a right to be respected as human beings.  So does every poor person, every homeless person, every addicted person, every soul who has had to steal to feed their families and even every criminal who is acting out the perpetual cycle of victim turned villain by pain and abuse.  If we could stop this cycle of fear and hate maybe the pain would finally end.  But that is my very human side that cries out in pain for all of those who were wounded and thrown away.  My heart will always ache for them but then again,  maybe not all is horribly and irretrievably lost.  

Maybe if we were to pay attention to the themes and roles that are occurring right now at this point in the history of this planet and see how it has repeated in nearly all societies throughout the civilized history of this planet, we might just learn something.  If we could look to the good and focus on creating more of that and if we could look to the bad that hurt those societies and brought them crumbling to the ground and then refused to engage in or perpetuate that, maybe life could be better on Earth.   Maybe Pollyanna is my twin sister huh?

I’m afraid I have no real answers, just a heavy heart this morning seeking broader resolution that may never come.  It may never come because I live in a framework not designed to resolve these dilemmas of thought I’m choosing to assign emotion to in this moment.  In a single moment I can dispassionately re-review history, I can re-review the news reports and see everything as if it is a book of lessons from which we are all given the opportunity to learn and I mean really learn.  As with all students, some will take a class and pass, get the lesson and move on to their next class thus achieving the goals of their lesson plan overall.  Some will take the class, miss the concepts the lessons were designed to teach and be doomed to fail the class thus having to repeat it or give up altogether on the goal of mastering their education.  I’ve referred to this place, this beautiful planet in our Milky Way Galaxy as the Earth School and I do so on purpose.  Perhaps I am but learning one of the hardest lessons of this place and that is that it just is what it is concerning prejudice, judgment, hate, idiocy, stupidity, pain, suffering and missing opportunities out of nothing but fear.  

The only choice that I can find the courage and strength to muster is just to love all whether or not I understand the reasons why they do this or that or not do this or that.  Women are not lesser beings than men.  Black men are not lesser beings than white men.  Gay, Lesbian and Transgender human beings are not lesser than heterosexual human beings.  Members who choose one form of religious expression are not lesser than human beings who choose other forms of religious expression or no religious expression at all.  This I understand and must still love all regardless because that is who I am.  I must realize that I stand in a framework here that I do not totally and completely understand and my role is not to turn the tides on everything wrong in this place but to seek to understand it and learn from it.  At some point, perhaps, I’ll stop grieving for those I see so horribly mistreated and realize that they may just be the bravest and most amazing souls that ever existed because of the sacrifices they selflessly made so that those of us watching would learn and see.  My deepest respect goes to them all throughout all time past, present and into the future.  

I can share nothing else with these series of thoughts anything other than a hope.  My hope is for greater compassion in each human being on this planet, greater understanding and love to eradicate fear and greater tolerance and understanding to end the suffering of those who are different.  Realizing that in this world where my true power to affect change lies is in one place and in one place only…within me, I now understand there is much I can do.  I can change my thoughts and how I assign emotion.  If I can heal from the pain I see in this world, I know that I can create the energy and a path for others to follow.  If I can learn, hold compassion, love and understanding, I can create a pathway for others to follow, just as I have followed the path after those who learned before me.  I need more coffee and a moment of silence in the stillness of this cool summer morning to appreciate all that is and all who have lived and do live here in this framework today.  Oh, and one more thing, on the men versus women thing (and this may certainly have broader applicability to all the other better than issues I have cited), I truly believe we each have strengths and weaknesses.  I believe truly that when we come together we all gain from our strengths.  One sex is not better than the other but when both sexes work together in love, harmony and respect...great and amazing things come.  That's it for my morning caffeine induced ramblings.  ~May the Source bless each and every one of you with courage and strength, much love and healing light.  Have a blessed day.

(c) 2013 Jaie Hart (the photo is of Anne Hutchinson that I found randomly on the internet.  You can read more about her here:  http://www.annehutchinson.com/anne_hutchinson_biography_001.htm)



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