Destiny

"The Creator has not given you a longing to do what you have no ability to do."

- Orison Swett Marden (1850 -1924)

Considered to the founding father of the American self-help movement, Marden's writing calls upon us to unleash our highest thought and vision of ourselves, without losing the connection to Infinite Intelligence. Learn more about this prolific author at www.orisonswettmarden.com

Love

« However difficult the circumstances, love is a remedy which is capable of restoring your equilibrium, your health and your life. Life and love are connected, and for life to circulate you must call on love. Yes, life springs from love. Where there is love, there is life, and when love fades, death approaches.

All religions teach us to love the One who gives life. This Being who fills the universe can be found everywhere: in the earth, in plants, in water, air and fire, in our organism, in the sun and the stars, everywhere, and it is here we must look for him if we are to become more and more alive. »

- Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov

If You Don't Use It, Lose It

Which aspects of yourself, from your past no longer serve you? Which roles have you played that still haunt you or that you still cling to in a needy fashion? Are there relationships in your past, that did not end the way you hoped, or would like to exercise a "do-over" on?

There can be no true moving on with creating your reality in the present, in the now; unless you have dealt with who you were in the past. Dealing with and resolving your past is an important part of re-creation in the now. It can be an ongoing process on many levels with you discovering more layers of yourself, causing further analysis of the past.

Fortunately, the methods available to clear out the aspects of our past which no longer serve us, are not hard to learn, although they can take practice. Acceptance and forgiveness are powerful states of being that can help you move from feeling sorrow, loss and sadness to feelings of joy and peace, with yourself and with those you have touched.

Some may say that forgiveness is an ongoing practice, yes it can be that. Not all of us are capable of wiping our slates clean to our satisfaction in one fell swoop, taking iterations and repetition to do so. The more you discover of who you are now, may lead you to re-focus on parts of the long gone, and see patterns you have been repeating. This is a very fortunate process, it brings good fortune to you in practicing this, looking back and breaking patterns, small ones and larger ones.

To see your-self here and now, in the present, as you are and accept your-self as that; to integrate that into your vision of One-ness, into your echo of the ultimate truth; takes acceptance on a deep level. Acceptance of who you have been, what you have done and who you are now, all mixed with forgiveness of those aspects that no longer serve you. This is a recipe to dwell upon and practice for yourself, wherever and whenever you find yourself in the now.

Even if you find yourself "stuck in the moment" as Bono sings, this process will help your healing. There are times when you are aware that you are in a cycle of change, but not yet at it's end. There may be times when you feel like giving up, when you feel that you just do not have it in you, that vision of greatness you once had may be crumbling before you, your dream of who you could be in your highest vision of You. You may feel stuck, weighed down, trapped.

Release yourself with this simple process, accept where you are, you created this situation for reasons that serve you, accept yourself and forgive yourself for being stuck. Allow yourself to rise up once more and challenge the cycle, the repetition of that aspect of yourself that you seem to be struggling with. Simply choose to release yourself from that part of you.

Let go of that which no longer serves you. Question why you are attached to this particular aspect of your past. What holds you back? What needs to be healed that you may continue on your journey? Do not make the mistake of looking to the influence or advice of others on yourself, because you have called those experiences to you. Look only at yourself. What is it within you that must heal for you to carry on your path of purpose?

Seek the answers to these questions only within yourself, there are no books or films or other media that can provide the answers for you. Having said that, I tell you these mediums can be used to offer messages in answer to your questions. Without contradiction I say that there is no magic book or recipe, there is no one way to the truth and to consciousness, do not blindly follow one teacher.

Question all things, let your heart speak it's truth to you, in you and through you. However, media in general offer a means of communication, the world around is a palette of messages in different forms, all sent to you, for you and by you, now.

As you ask better questions about yourself and ask for answers to them, your subconscious, your soul, your connection will conspire to provide these answers for you, through any means in your environment. The next commercial you watch may provide an insight, the next tune on the radio may have a lyric that sings to your heart, the next person you meet may say something that rings true. Open your senses to the world around you, and notice the answers that lie before you, to questions you have asked.

Practice putting thought into the questions that you ask of yourself. Re-member your-self as a child of God, as a glorious aspect of experiential truth in the Ultimate Truth of all that is. Accept yourself, as you are now, as you have been and as you next choose to be. Bless those parts you no longer need, thank them for bringing you here to this point, forgive them and wish them farewell.

You are a being creating your reality, and creating anew in every moment. You are being creativity. Discover your next self in your next moment, and be who you are now. Lose those aspects that no longer serve you, with joy. And with every step, you will rise in tribute to your purpose, you will see your-self as the spiritual being wrapped around a human experience, a living prayer to the gift of your life.

Touch the World,

-Mikel

Go Within

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Together Alone

We have a natural tendency toward seperation in our life experience, which leads us to believe that all things are not part of us and that we have no relation to everything around us. No relation other than what we say it is, to the people, events and circumstances surrounding us.

In truth this is so, and from a different perspective it is also not so. As part of our process of re-membering ourselves, putting our-selves back together again, there is another natural series of events which lead each to see our one-ness. To see that we are part of all that is, from the lowliest shrub to the grandest idea we may have and beyond to incorporate our individual vision of God and Ultimate Truth.

As we journey through this process, through this vibration, we begin to find our inner peace and knowing, that we are one with all that is. We find that we never were alone and that this world that presents itself to us in seemingly sequential moments, is an illusion. Perhaps this is experienced as a fleeting moment or a longer one yet. In our world, our chosen reality, it's all relative, unless you choose otherwise.

After realizing the truth, that we are all together, that we are all one with all that is, we can hold it close to us, as we continue journeying through the reality we have chosen to experience and endure. We again begin our dance with seperation, our association with the aspects of apartness that allow us to experience our human selves. We begin to play with constructing and de-constructing aspects of ourselves with more choice, passion and zeal.

Knowing more of the truth of who we are, allows us the choice to experience aspects of seperateness differently, with more say over who we choose to express ourselves as. Realizing our oneness, affords the choice to live out aspects of ourselves in whatever manner we choose, as seperately or as together as serves us.

Since we are journeying through cycles, through vibrations of our-selves, each turn of the wheel allows us to incorporate more, realize more and re-member more. Each cycle allows us to express, experience and be more, using the seperation of our relative existence as the backdrop for expressing ourselves through thought, word and deed; through experiencing the all that we are.

Between these cycles of being as one, and being alone; we grow in our appreciation for the whole picture. We see ourselves more regularly as aspects of a grand One-ness, experiencing itself relatively and seperately.

Observe the word "alone" - we are al-one, all-one. We are always Together Al-one. Wherever you choose to be, you are being together, you are being al-one. We are all one. End the illusion.

Love & Joy,
-Mikel

Gratitudes a Plenty

Practicing gratitude is another art worthy of re-membering, re-acquiring. From the view I have, it takes practice and skill to celebrate gratefulness in its many un-countable ways throughout a day. The further you progress on your path, the more grateful you naturally become for living this life, re-cognizing more of who you are and who we are.

Incorporating and practicing gratitude throughout your days, may sound like a requirement to walk around thanking the flowers and the trees, along with everyone and everything in your life for being there and the part they play in the movie called "You". There are differences between expressing gratitude and being grateful, the most obvious is gratitude as something experienced versus something expressed to another.

During trying and stressful times it can be easy to forget the lessons and teachers around you, and to neglect being grateful for them being in that moment, regardless of what form they take. Teachers such as the ones that bring you strife or cause hurdles for you to climb and grow from, as well those of friendlier attitudes. Everyone around you is in this moment now, for a reason. Not someone else's reason, no, they there because of you, for you, by you. What you take away from the experience is your own, but being grateful is essential to the complete experience, for if you are not, then you are being or feeling separate from those around you, and that is illusion.

I am grateful to all those around me, either as teachers in my life experience, or as students who are open to furthering their path. There are those in my circle that are neither, they fall generally into the people that see the light but turn away from it still, and those precious invaluable few that are both teacher and student with me, and I with them. For them all, I am grateful.

Scientists have shown that it takes up to roughly 10,000 hours of practice to master a new skill. Riding a bicycle may not appear to take as much effort as acquiring mastery over a piano, however can you remember how long it took you to learn to ride a bike with no hands while standing on the handlebars? I never did, but I know also that it would take extreme skill to do so. Whether it is 10,000 hours or not, I have never measured but it seems like a healthy number, and so perhaps this applies to other things, like being grateful.

With experience my moments of forgetting my gratitude are becoming fewer and fewer. I'm reminded of who I am and who we are, feeding my zeal for my path and the journey. At some level of awareness, you also know that we all are one. That there is no separateness. That we surround ourselves with the illusion of reality, with purpose and on purpose. That there are no victims and that we are here by our choice.

While it easy to single out aspects of being to speak about, it doesn't give us a pure view on all that we are in each moment. Being grateful is one aspect that congeals many others for us, and helps us re-member that we are on our individual journeys. That we are observers of the sea of life flowing around us and part of it also. Gratitude can be a key for you, in seeing yourself as a spiritual being having this human experience.

Thank you,
-Mikel

Exercise: Be in a quiet space, at your quiet time of day. Make a list written on paper, not in your head, with the following title, "In this moment I'm grateful for...". Focus inwardly, meditate if you wish, but at least still your mind. Allow your-self to express your being, your mind and feelings. Write only positively framed sentences, and eliminate sarcasm or negative energies from your list. Edit as little as possible and be as free as you are able in expressing what comes to you.

Once you feel complete or empty or done, read it through while being grateful for the experiences and people involved, fold up your list and keep it close to you, preferably in your pocket, for the day. Every time you see it or touch it you will be reminded of yourself and your relationship with gratitude.

The next day repeat this exercise, although set the old list aside, perhaps you wish to archive the old or dispose of it, the choice is yours. Create a new list. Repeat this exercise for 21 days faithfully to notice a heightened sense of awareness within you to your relationship with gratitude, those around you and a renewed perspective on the lessons you are learning.

Artwork used with permission. http://www.sublimatrix.com/

What's This Life For?

Sitting here this morning, listening to the music of Creed, playing their version of "What’s this life for?", and reflecting on the time of year. Many of us are going through the motions of the holiday season, following tradition, preparing feasts for family and friends, buying gifts and focusing very much on the outside world.

For more than a few people I know, it's a time of reflection. For many, a time to consider how alone you may feel, in a world surrounded by people. It's the perfect time to ponder what your life is for. Anytime is.

Is this is you? Are you still in a state of separateness? Separateness from others, and from your-Self. This kind of separateness, is merely a perspective, easily cured with a shift in focus. At least easy to say.

Alone-ness, rather than chosen solitude, is closely related to your level of understanding the Oneness of us all. Even though you may already recognize this, practicing a thing until it is an unconscious habit can still leave you in various phases of experiencing your human self and past aspects of that.

To engage in the world is to be human, and without mastery over the self, there is a continual and sometimes extreme ebb and flow between you spiritual self and your human self, experienced as separateness. In other times, everything is together and expressed as one.

During this holiday season, many of us in the western world, not only have the opportunity to experience closeness with family and friends, whether genuine or feigned, but also this time can be that precursor that we allow to ignite feelings of relationships lost.

Reflecting on the past has it's uses and can serve a purpose, however if this appears to be a pattern for you, perhaps you are being asked to resolve something within you. Perhaps there are aspects of those past relationships that are still not healed, or it could be as simple as missing someone.

All and any of these reflect aspects of separation. It is not reality. In reality we are never separate. We are spiritual beings having a human experience, which includes perspectives of separateness. Some of these aspects are required for us to be human, but those which cause us to feel any separateness from others, are illusions. They have served you well. Bless them and release them. Now is the time to feel at one with all.

Reflect on what you feel is lost in these relationships, past or present, and discover parts of yourself yet to be healed. Recognize the oneness of us all, through the eyes you have, taking the view of the spiritual being, looking upon your human experience, our human experience and see again, the divine and infinite beauty in the masterwork of your life. Everything is perfect. Everything about you is as it should be, and must be, for you to remember and recognize who you are.

Give thanks to those relationships, they have served their purpose in assisting you to see sides of yourself you otherwise would not. Bless those involved, even though they may not be aware of your benefit and perspective. Despite appearances, life is as complicated as only you wish it.

Dedicated to those closest to me.

Happy Holidays,
-Mikel

Go, Flow.

Have you ever stood in the ocean at the beach and tried to stand against the power of the waves as they relentlessly pound away at you? Perhaps you were able to stand still, for a while, but there were also moments when no matter how you tried, you were moved. Just like the waves continuously pulsing around you, all around and through your being, things are always in motion.

Sometimes we are faced with difficult or stressful emotional and mental challenges, through our outer relationships or the things we do in the world. We abandon or move our focus away from our inner rhythm and flow, to get caught up in the maelstrom of the relative world we take part in. When we do this, especially when we are beginning to practice conscious involvement with our inner self, we can become distracted from our essence. Where our conscious focuses, our unconscious follows, albeit unwilling to do so at times.

Learning to balance and juggle our inner and outer realms takes practice, that much is certain. For most of us the larger challenge is in developing a sense of fairness in our conscious attention on our-selves versus the outside. After all, thanks to our choice of forgetting our past before this life, we come from the outside world, to know our-selves inwardly and not the other way round. “Go within, or go without” God says.

To the beginner on the path of truth, these distractions can seem quite large at the outset, or perhaps more likely the consequences may seem so. The consequence of having to start re-building that inner perspective again, perhaps even from the ground up can be daunting and elusive especially when learning detachment. In this case, the silver lining is that whatever inward focus you had previously achieved, can be reached more quickly this time, since you have already experienced the process.

Recalling memories, emotions and sensations of how it felt to hold that inner view can assist in reaching it again sooner. As well as focusing on the environment that existed or allowed the creation of that inner peace. Was it through meditation or reading sacred teachings? Was it through inspiring music or a beautiful piece of art? Perhaps it was a memory or the company of another. Whatever it was, if it can be identified, repeat it. Attain that perspective again and with practice, summon it at will.

Be like the rock on the beach, each wave washing it with new insight, perspective and beauty. Permit the universe to flow through you and over you, as you weave the tales of your story, your purpose. Be the rock, and be the wave. In each moment be reborn, be aware.

The sooner you reach your new perspective or the one previously attained, a newer more challenging step in the conquering of self will reveal itself to you, showing you the way to your next chapter. "When the student is ready, the teacher appears."

Peace,
-Mikel

Artwork used with permission www.sublimatrix.com

Dealing With Negativity

Starting out on any new journey can be frightening at times, especially when you are called upon to step out of your so-called "comfort zone" or when you face the possibility of ridicule or negativism from others.

On one hand it is easy to say that we should accept everything everyone and everything as they are, and instead work upon ourselves. It is a good intention indeed and I’m not meaning the kind of intention that goes unfulfilled. Literally, it is a good place to focus, acceptance of yourself before working on your acceptance of those around you.

Amongst the challenges and excitement this has to offer you, in uncovering the layers of yourself, negativity will play a key part in helping or hindering the progress you might like to make.

Negativity from others, who are either unaware of your chosen journey and even from those around you that are. Also, you cannot discount the negativity you feed yourself, the voice inside your head which questions your lofty thoughts and ideals, which would choose to distract you from your path, only to have you come back to that certain point where you left off at some later stage.

Practicing techniques for dealing with and deflecting negativity from yourself and others can serve to not only strengthen your resolve, but also facilitate the uncovering of who you are and your purpose, with greater efficiency.

Avoidance is a simple enough practice. Choose to avoid those around you who spread negativity. This is easy when these people are acquaintances, not close to your inner circle. Perhaps a little harder if they are friends or close friends, and harder still when they are immediate family.

In the case of friends, you should choose to associate with people of a higher consciousness. Perhaps your existing negative friends have the capacity to grow also and stay connected to you, but it is important to recognize that all things have a cycle, so do relationships. Analyze the relationships you have around you, and how they serve to inspire or drag you down. Change your relationships where it serves you.

One thing to remember is who you are serving on your journey. By serving yourself first, you will serve those around you. You can only travel your path knowingly, since you are unable to predict where or why the people that are around you now would move to on their path’s. To all things there is a season.

Choose a higher thought. In the case of self-induced negativity, the little voice that speaks in your head, questioning your good motivations, querying the choices you know and feel to be right. This is your ego. Understand that by choosing the path to self-knowledge and consciousness that you are committing your ego to ultimate death. Your ego has formed such an intrinsic part of who you are in a world focused on the external, that it is tightly integrated into who you are, and it can take an effort to reduce it’s affect and influence over you. After all, what is the ego to do once you realize yourself to be one with All That Is?

Ego-killing can be a longer process than you imagine, and there are more techniques that can benefit anyone in this pursuit, but whenever you experience a negative thought pop into your head simply accept it, dismiss it and choose a higher thought. Consistency in your effort will reduce self-talk over time.

Frame who you are becoming. Imagine a picture frame, the only content of the picture is you, no one else that you know, just you, but seen only in the context of who you imagine yourself becoming. Who are you in this picture? What are your attributes? What does this person have to offer themselves and others?

Meditate on this image, construct your picture frame and picture in your head. In times of challenge, simply conjure the image of that picture frame and what it holds, nothing else. This is a fairly easy way to focus again on you.

Have a magical moment,
-Mikel

"My World"

If I could but change the world
What a world it would be.

No one dies of hunger or despair
In loneliness
Leave behind the perception that no one cared enough

No child cries from fear or cold
In sickness
Leave the world where cures are sold to the rich

No compassion is hidden from view
In shame
Concealed from derisive laughter

All laughter is joyous and glad
Rejoicing
In love and wonderment

Tears of joy and sorrow
Flow freely
In equal measure for all to share

All are valued equally
Revered
For the contribution they bring

And Love.

Love is all encompassing
Shared
Timeless, abundant, transcending.

If I could but change the world
What a world it would be.

- "My World" Written and submitted by Marja

Share your thoughts, insights, questions and answers. Post a comment or submit privately via email to: questions (at) manicreality.com

Surrounded By Teachers

Each of us is surrounded by great teachers, mostly without realizing it. Typically we all have one or a few people in our circle, in our "tribe", that are able to inspire us to greater visions of our life and its potential future, but we sometimes forget to acknowledge, recognize or give thanks for, the great teachers that surround us in less obvious ways.

In your day to day life, the reflections of yourself that you receive from those around you, demonstrates the degree to which you allow others around you to be themselves. Through your view of reality, to the extent that you allow the people around you to be themselves, to that extent will they allow you the same.

This can determine how much you benefit from the lessons that can arise from knowing them also. Failing to recognize that the person at the office you always argue with or clash with, is actually an opportunity for you to learn something about yourself, furthering your journey to self-knowledge; can hold you back until you no longer choose to be held back.

The simplest recognition of a teacher often happens when we spend time with children, they say the darndest things. But why do the things they say strike us so? Because the moments of clarity that erupt from a child’s mouth, ring true with our core. Yes, even children, your children, those of others, can be great teachers for you.

How about people you consider to be less spiritually evolved? Can they be messengers, teachers, in your life? Absolutely. Your perception (this is important) of someone’s place in evolution can leave you disappointed. Just because they may not appear to read the latest spiritual books, or meditate the way you do, will never imply their awareness, or their ability to teach you, or to be the agent in an event that increases your realization.

Look at your family, friends and acquaintances with fresh eyes. Consider the relationships you have at work, the gym, the guy at the store you get gas from, you are surrounded by teachers, and the potential to learn. Analyze your most difficult relationships. Why are they difficult? Why is it hard to relate the person? Why is it tough to perceive this person as having something to offer you? How can you change your relation-ship to this person, to give yourself permission to benefit?

Walk into every situation with an open question "What can I learn from this person?" Even if you are not able to perceive of any remote benefit, simply asking the question will create an opportunity for it to arise. Pay attention, in small ways you will notice things they say or do reminding you of aspects of yourself.

Many great books by wise authors tell us that we are not here to learn anything. Our purpose is to remember who we are, they say. Absolutely, the context in which Ive used the word learn is a familiar one only for your benefit, but consider the word re-member, in the sense of re-constituting parts of a whole. That is exactly what you are doing as you acknowledge the many great teachers you are surrounded with right now. The reflections of yourself that you receive from others, is part of your process of re-membering your-Self. Are you listening?

When considering why you find yourself surrounded with the people that you do, from your partner, to kids, family, friends, work colleagues and acquaintances; think about what it is you are learning right now on your path. Your situation is perfect and there people are in your life at this time, for a reason. Perhaps you have grander visions of people that you could learn from? That will wait, because one truth is "When the student is ready, the teacher appears". Your teachers are around you now, have you recognized them?

As you give to another, so shall you receive. Honestly, give those around you permission to be their authentic selves, without your perceptions and judgments. Lose attachment to who you think others should be and think of your-Self only. Give yourself permission to learn from your teachers.

An Affirmation for today: "I allow others around me to be who they are, and accept them as they are."

Be Beautiful :)
-Mikel