Amnion, Amniotic Fluid, and Amnesia(Past Life Recall)

"Through memory we travel against time,
through forgetfulness we follow its course."
- Joseph Joubert

The amnion is the membrane which surrounds and protects the
unborn fetus while in the womb.

Amniotic fluid is the fluid which protects and nurtures the fetus,
and allows it movement, while it is within the amnion.

Amnesia is a loss of recall whereby a person is unable to
remember a part of, or the entirety of, their life.

Now what do the words amnion, amniotic fluid and amnesia
have in common with each other?

To start with, each of these words have the same root beginning:
amn.

Prior to entering our Current Incarnation our Spirit resided in the
realm of Unity; an Unknowable and sublime realm of Beauty and
oneness within The All.

Ancient teachings speak of the process of Incarnation and
re-Incarnation which our Spirits participate in, and experience.

Furthermore, these teachings also inform us that our Incarnations
contain past lives, future lives and our current life. Also, we are
Instructed that we may be experiencing many simultaneous
Current Incarnations in various different realms and parallel
universes.

And, because Time has an entirely different nature in the Spiritual
realm, it is also possible that all of our Incarnations ( past, present
and future ) may be all happening at the same Time.

And, if all of this is not mind-boggling enough, ancient teachings
further inform us that we may have Chosen the specific aspects of
the Incarnation we are currently experiencing.

This means that, prior to descent into matter, our Spirit actually
Chose the physical Time, the planetary location, the historical
Events, and even the parents we Decided to be born to in this
Current Incarnation of ours.

Ancient teachings further inform us that, except for Avatars,
Incarnations and re-Incarnations are participated in by Spirits not
only for the purpose of experiencing the physical world of duality
but also for working off, and Learning to rid ourselves of, all of the
accumulated Karma from our Past, and even possibly future,
Incarnations.

Once our physical experiences are ended and all Karma has been
worked away our Spirit is no longer subject to re-Incarnations in
this realm. At that point we either come to dwell in a much higher
realm or we ascend to the ultimate realm of The All.

Matter cannot exist without Spirit (See: "Spirit and Matter"). At the
moment of conception Spirit and sperm Become one in the egg of
the womb. The sperm grows into the fetus which lives within the
amniotic fluid, which is within the amnion, which is within the womb
of the mother.

The fetus spends approximately nine-months within the amnion.
After this Time the fetus breaks free of the amnion, leaves the
womb, and enters the world of duality as a newborn child.

But, what is happening to the fetus while it is dwelling within the
amniotic fluid, which is within the amnion, which is within the womb?
This is a very interesting question, and mystery, to ponder!

Let us explore a theory...a scenario.

Let us suppose that we have Chosen the Time, location, historical
period and parents of our Current Incarnation; all of which are
designed  to work off past Karma, refine our spirit, and rid ourselves
of Sin.

Then, as with any other journey we venture into, this would mean
that we have come into our Current Incarnation with all the
necessary tools and skills required to experience this Incarnation
and work out all of our past Karma and Sin. These tools and skills
would be already contained within the Divine Nature of our unique
personality; our Ba; our Atman.

Therefore, taking this one step further, if we come into our Current
Incarnation with all the skills and tools that we need this also
means that the experiences of our past Incarnations are already
a part of the Spiritual DNA which accompanies us into our
Current Incarnation.

This Spiritual DNA, which contains the building blocks and
substance of our personality, can be further referred to as the
attitude and Destiny (our objective, or "to-do" list if you will) which
accompanies us into our Current Incarnation.

Now we come to a big question:

If we come into our Current Incarnation with all the tools and skills
we require, what is the purpose of the Amnesia which erases from
our consciousness not only the Memory of the sublime realm of
Spirit, but also the Memory of all of our past lives?

And the answer is that Amnesia, the loss of recall of both the
Spirit realm and past lives, is necessary if we are to fulfill the
mission and Destiny of our Current Incarnation.

In regards to Memory of the Spirit realm:

Amnesia protects us from remembering the sublime Beauty of the
Spiritual Paradise which our Spirit has temporarily left in order to
enter into and experience our Current Incarnation.

For, if we were to Remember the sublime Beauty of the Spiritual
realm while in our Current Incarnation, we may be severely tempted
to end our Current Incarnation before the mission and purpose of
our Incarnation is complete.

We hear of many individuals, especially children, who want to
commit suicide after having a near death experience whereby the
Veil between their physical and Spiritual realms has been lifted
and they once again see the Beautiful realm they left when they
entered their current physical existence.

Amnesia, in this instance, is necessary if we are to complete the
task for which we entered this Current Incarnation of ours.

In regards to Memory of Past Lives:

Think of how cluttered up our minds would be if we could recall
every mistake, every foolish act, and every painful Memory we
both performed and experienced in all of our Past Lives

Then think of the powerful emotions, and melancholy, that can
possess us when we visit, or perhaps just simply think about,
the people and places of our distant Past; people and places
we may not have visited, or thought about, for decades.

Now compound this melancholy with the highly emotional
Thoughts of people and places from an infinitude of Past Lives;
people and places both tender and haunting; people and
places which are now closed to us, yet still Remember-able
through Past Life Recall.

These Remembrances would be more of a hindrance than an
asset to us in our current journey. We would be so overwhelmed,
haunted, confused, obsessed, tormented, and burdened by these
Past-Life Memories that we would never be able to accomplish the
objectives we set forth for ourselves when we Chose to enter
our Current Incarnation.

Therefore, is it possible that the Amniotic Fluid we exist in while
in the womb is not only a fluid that protects and nurtures us but
is also a fluid of un-remembrance; a fluid that gives us Amnesia
from remembering not only our past lives but the Beauty and
magnificence of the Spirit Realm as well?

With all these Thoughts taken into consideration, the final
questions are these:

Considering the Divine Process of Amnesia which our fetus
experiences while in the Amnion, is it in our best interest to
attempt Past Life Recalls where all of our unanswered questions
lie?

Or, is it much healthier, grander and beneficial for us to Learn
how to tap into and access the Great Subconscious (something
also referred to as the Akashic Records) where all the answers
of Eternity lie?

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

Sin and Judgment Day(Symbolism, Mythology and Mysticism)

"The success or failure of your deeds
does not add up to the sum of your life.
Your spirit cannot be weighed.
Judge yourself by the intentions of your actions,
and by the strength with which you faced
the challenges that have stood in your way.
The universe is vast and we are so small.
There is really only one thing we can ever
truly control...whether we are good or evil."
- Oma Desala, Stargate SG-1, Episode, "Meridian"

What is Sin?

We come into our Current Incarnation Spiritually pure. At the
moment of our birth, it is just us and our Atman (Our God Within).

However, as we progress through our Incarnation we start
accumulating habits, thoughts and beliefs which are inconsistent
with our spiritual essence; Our Divine Nature.These dis-Harmonious
habits, thoughts, and beliefs are what is Esoterically referred to as
Sin.

A great many of us have been Indoctrinated into believing that
Sin is "an act against God". Furthermore, we have also been
trained to Believe that this God is an all-powerful and judgemental
force which exists apart from us for the sole purpose of measuring
each one of our deeds.

We are further told that should this God solely determine that
our life on earth was an honorable existence, then this God will
grant us eternal happiness (Heaven). On the other hand, should
this God solely determine that our life on earth was unrighteous,
then this God will condemn us to eternal misery (Hell).

Of course this God also has a whole set of policies and procedures,
just like any other bureaucratic organization, to deal with those
individuals who fall somewhere in-between.

This is a whole lot of Guilt to lay upon someone who, according
to this set of teachings, has only one life to spend here on earth!

However, when we realize that God exists within each and every
one of us as our Atman (our God-Within), we are able to look at
our Current Incarnation, and Sin, in an entirely different light.

For, if God exists within us, and we perform an "act against God"
(a Sin), then the only entity we are truly offending and punishing is
ourselves!

With these thoughts in mind, we begin to have an entirely different
view of not only what Sin is, but who our Sins are against. So,
with this new viewpoint before us, let us again address the question
of "What is Sin?".

Sin is a Thought, Belief, Action, or Event which we either create,
indulge ourselves in, or submit ourselves to, either voluntarily or
involuntarily, which is in violation of Divine Law.

Sin is any activity we involve ourselves in which creates a dis-
Harmony, imbalance, confusion or Karmic Debt which negatively
affects our Spiritual growth and mental expansion.

An act of Sin can simply be some minor mis-deed which confuses
and unbalances us (venial sin) or it can be an extreme action which
actually destroys our Current Incarnation (mortal sin).

However, whether a violation is major or minor, a Sin is any Action
on our part which causes a disturbance in our Spiritual tranquility.

As very few of us engage in extreme and obvious mortal Sin, let us
concentrate on the minor, or venial, Sins which are so much a part
of our Current Incarnation.

When we begin to analyze Sin we can pretty much put it into one
of two categories:

1. Sin is any misguided or erroneous thought process or impression
which has become ingrained within us by way of Indoctrination and
training which disrupts the tranquility of our Incarnation;

2. Sin is any tendency, belief, or thought process built up over Time
which is detrimental to our Current Incarnation in that these things
are dis-Harmonious with Divine Law, limit our Spiritual and mental
expansion, and distract us from the noble Quest which we originally
came into our Current Incarnation to pursue.

Minor, simple, or venial Sins are thought processes and impressions
such as: "I'm too young", "I'm too old", "My parents would not
approve", "My church will not permit it", "People will talk", "That's
not the way I learned things in school",  "I don't want to be ridiculed
or gossiped about", "I have been trained not to think that way", etc,
etc, etc.

These impressions, which initially appear to be nothing more than
minor beliefs or Guilt Trips, are in fact the mental traps and
Self-Imposed Limitations (Sins) which destroy our individual
Sovereignty and throw us from the Path of our own personal Destiny.

Judgment Day:

Nearly all religions speak of a Judgment Day for the recently
deceased. The ancient Egyptians commemorated this Event by
way of a Ceremony which they called The Weighing of the Heart.

Judgment Day is the evaluation of a persons Incarnation. It is
the "day" when either Deity or a specific god or goddess determines
whether or not we have learned to sidestep and shed ourselves of
Sin. For those who have learned to rid themselves of Sin their
re-Incarnation into this plane of existence is over. These Spirits
then either re-Incarnate into a higher spiritual plane or have
completed their Cycle of Incarnations.

For those who have not learned to sidestep and shed themselves
of Sin, their re-Incarnations into this realm will continue until this
vital Lesson has been learned. Astrologically, these souls are
still subject to the to the disciplinary actions of Saturn in his role
of "Teacher of Hard Lessons".

Conclusion:

Sin is the negative Karma, negative energy and negative
Consequences which we bring into our lives. Sin is the fears,
impurities, Inner Demons, Guilts, Self-Imposed Limitations,
false Beliefs and unbalanced energies which we allow to taint
the purity of our Spirit.

Therefore Sin is the weights which hold us down and hold us
back; weights which must be released in order for us to Become
pure and impeccable; weights which must be released so that
we can increase our Awareness, ascend, and experience
higher planes of existence and mingle with the higher and purer
Spirits, Beings, and Divine Essences which occupy these
sublime realms.

When we "sin" we do not Sin against an external Deity, we Sin
against ourselves.

When we "sin" we engage in Thoughts, Words and Deeds which
are in dis-Harmony with the Divine Laws of the Universe and we
create spiritual imbalances within ourselves.

When we "sin" we create negative Consequences which establish
Karmic Debts; Debts which must be paid for, and answered to, by
us either in this Incarnation or in following Incarnations.

The greater the Sin, the Greater the Karmic Burden. The lesser the
Sin, the lesser the Karmic Burden. However any Sin against
ourselves, whether large or small, carries a Karmic Burden and its
own set of Consequences.

This is the Lesson, nature and purpose of re-Incarnation: to rid
ourselves of Sin; to release our Spiritual Souls from all of the
confines, bondages and destructive Pacts of the material realm.

For the heaven or hell we, in fact, create for ourselves depends
entirely upon our desire and ability to rid ourselves of the debts,
burdens and Consequences which even the most minuscule act of
Sin inflicts upon us.

See also: "Egyptian Weighing of the Heart"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

Laws: Divine vs. Man-Made

"Forgive him, for he believes
that the customs of his tribe
are the laws of nature."
- George Bernard Shaw

We spend such a large portion of our lives dealing with man-made
laws that many of us have probably forgotten that there are laws
which are far superior to man-made laws . These superior laws
are the Divine Laws which govern not only our personal lives but
also the conscious universe, along with all that exists within it,
as well.

And as each one of us is primarily concerned with our personal
lives, let us look at the difference between man-made laws
versus Divine Laws and evaluate how these two different sets of
principles affect our Current Incarnation.

Man-made laws:

We are all familiar with man-made laws. They engulf us. They
overwhelm us. They confuse us. And, quite often, they are used
by oppressive regimes in an attempt to suppress us.

In addition, man-made laws are not limited to statutory laws;
they also include the rules, regulations, by-laws, and policies
and procedures of every organization and faction on our planet.

Although society requires a basic structure in order for it to
function freely, safely, and properly, an over-abundance of
man-made laws often leads to chaos and loss of respect simply
because these laws, over time, become not only contradictory
to each other but their design is very often inconsistent and
dis-Harmonious with the Divine Laws which govern all of creation.

Man-made laws, by their very nature, tend to be fickle, fleeting,
changeable, prejudicial, and inconsistent. Furthermore, man-made
laws may either be enforced, randomly enforced, or disregarded
depending on the whims of whatever political faction is currently
in a position of authority. Also, man-made laws quite often bestow
special privileges upon individuals belonging to a certain class,
social status, or income status.

And finally, as most of us have experienced, man-made laws often
differ radically from time to time and from place to place. What is
considered to be legal or illegal in one period of time may be
looked upon quite differently in another period of time. The same
holds true for cultures, states, nations, and races: what is deemed
to be either legal, illegal, or important in one segment of society
may be looked upon entirely different in another segment.

Man-made laws are based upon theory, Compromise, and current
political and social whims. Man-made laws are governance by force
and Guilt. And this is why societies, nations, and civilizations often
meet bitter ends; for they force upon people rules, laws, restrictions,
and constrictions which are not only inconsistent but often at odds
with Divine Laws.

Divine Laws:

Divine Laws are the exact opposite of man-made laws. Divine Laws
are constant, unwavering, and eternal. Divine Laws are the same for
every person, place, and time...without prejudice!

Divine Laws are Divine Principles. They are the basic Truths which
govern the cosmos. These Laws have been passed down to us from
the very beginning of Time. We find these Divine Laws depicted in
the Symbolism contained within the ancient Egyptian Neters.

Divine Laws, if adhered to, allow for the free and balanced flow of
energy within a race, a nation, a society, and a person. If not
adhered to, those who disregard these Laws will suffer the
consequences of their actions.

Divine Laws allow for self-governance: we can either Choose to
obey these Laws or disregard them.

Divine Laws are simple, basic, and eternal. And it is perhaps
because of their simplicity that these Laws are so often ignored.

Let us examine a few of these Divine Laws.

The Law of Truth: What is is. Truth is not found in the Hopes,
wishes and Opinions of either ourselves or of others.

The Law of Ignorance: To be unaware of what is Real and True
does not release us from the Consequences of our Ignorance.

The Law of Karma: Every Action, whether by Word or deed, has
its Consequence. It is up to us to know the Consequences of
our Actions.

The Law of Awareness: To observe and understand what is
happening within us, around us, and throughout our world.

The Law of Free Will: We have the freedom to Choose our
Thoughts and Actions. However, with this freedom comes
responsibility and Consequences.

The Law of Sovereignty: The supreme gift which is bestowed
upon each one of us that grants us a dream: a dream of how
we Choose to experience our Current Incarnation.

The Law of Interconnectedness: All Words and Actions have
effects; often in ways we are unable to conceive.

The Law of Destiny: There are various kinds of Destinies:
personal, societal, and planetary.

The Law of Alchemy: To make something or someone pure,
all impurities must first be removed.

The Law of Harmony: We are either in Harmony (perfect balance)
with the Laws of the Universe or we are not. There is no middle
ground in these matters. The Ancient Egyptians called this Divine
Principle Maat.

These are just a few of the Divine Laws which govern the
universe and, by association, our Current Incarnation. It is our
personal Choice whether to obey or disregard these Laws.
However, as these Laws are eternal and unchangeable we should,
at the very least, have an understanding and Awareness of these
Divine Truths.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011

The Unattached Observer(The Beholder Of Cycles, Events, and Destiny)

"The iron chain and the silken cord
are both equally bonds."
- Friedrich von Schiller

There is a very insightful statement which appears on page 61 of
"The Fire From Within" by Carlos Castaneda which bears further
attention and comment:

"...Seers aim to be free, to be unbiased witnesses incapable of
passing judgment; otherwise they would have to assume the
responsibility for bringing about a more adjusted cycle. No one
can do that. The new cycle, if it is to come, must come of itself."

As this paragraph is an excellent description of an Unattached
Observer, let us look further into this statement and attempt to
analyze its insights and Instruction.

As Events create Cycles, they therefore share a similar bond.
Cycles can be cosmic, planetary, societal, and personal. And
although cosmic and planetary Cycles are unalterable, and
generally beyond our control, we still have the ability and
responsibility to be Aware of them.

Societal and personal Cycles and Events are a completely different
matter. They can either present us with those golden opportunities
which appear to us perhaps only a handful of times during our
lifetimes, or, they can be the trap-doors that constantly get us into
an awful lot of trouble.

Societal and personal Events are brought about by Actions. Actions
can be in the form of Words, personal behavior, or massive group
(mob) undertakings. Once an Action is performed a Cycle is created;
and This Cycle will have Consequences. Furthermore, this Cycle
must experience its own completion; nothing can stop it once it is
set into motion.

Seers, and Seekers, understand that whenever we create an Event,
or Share Energy with with a person, place, thing, or Event, we
become bound to, and responsible for, the Consequences of the
Event we either participate in or create. The responsibilities and
Karmic burdens we may incur from the resulting Consequences of
these Events can often limit our personal freedom and clear thinking
long after these Events complete their normal Cycles.

Therefore, Seers and Seekers are very cautious of who and what
they Choose to share and invest their energies with. This is why
Seers and Seekers very rarely involve themselves in societal
and inter-personal Events and simply maintain the role of an
Unattached Observer.

So, with this Thought in mind, the question we should be asking
ourselves is simply this: Do we want to be swept away by personal,
inter-personal, societal, and perhaps even cosmic Events which are
such a large part of Human Behavior and our Human experience, or
do we simply prefer to be an Unattached Observer who is immune to
these Cycles and Events and the Consequences which they create?

As every Action (whether by word or deed) creates an Event, and
every Event has a Cycle, and every Cycle has a duration and
Consequences, each one of us possesses the Free Will to Choose
whether or not we will participate in, and therefore bind ourselves to,
an Event, its duration, and its Consequences.

We Learn by way of two different processes: observation and
experience. Furthermore, experience can be gained by either of
two  ways: personal experience or the experiences of others. As
personal experience can often be expensive and brutal, it is Wise
to learn as much as we can from the experiences of history and
the experience of others.

Seers and Seekers who maintain the role of the Unattached
Observer understand this important principle. They are the
Lone Wolfs who realize that Non-Interference allows us to be
free, unbiased, unattached, and observing. Whereas Interference
restricts our freedom, causes us to form and defend Opinions,
attaches us to Events and their Consequences, and prevents us
from being Aware of what is truly happening.

The Unattached Observer has cultivated the ability to properly
observe and understand an Action or Event along with the
Consequences it will bring forth. This Awareness enables the
Unattached Observer to Wisely Choose whether to participate
in, or distance themself from, any particular Event.

Finally, Unattached Observers, being fully Aware of the Cycles
which are created by Actions and Events, understand that once a
Cycle is created it cannot be stopped; it must completely exhaust
itself. This "pearl of Wisdom" prevents them from interfering in any
Cycles which individuals, crowds, or societies have put into motion.

They completely understand that any attempt to interfere with any
Cycle already in motion disturbs its natural rhythm, binds them to
the Cycle, and creates responsibilities and obligations which can
limit their freedom, disturb their peace of mind, and draw them from
the Path of their personal Destiny.

Although there are Cycles, Events, and Destinies which constantly
befall mankind, The Unattached Observer is fully Aware that he, or
she, is not required to participate in these issues. The Unattached
Observer simply observes these issues from a distance, sidesteps
the follies and intrigues of the masses, and takes pleasure in the
peace and contentment of their own personal Journey.

See also: "The Prime Directive"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011

Interconnectedness - The Karmic Web(Symbolism and Metaphor)

"Always in motion is the future."
-Yoda, Jedi Master, "Star Wars"

Ancient texts from India tell us of Indra's Web. It is a string of
Interconnected Pearls which vibrates at all points when it is
touched at any point.

From Mythologies and tales from other parts of the world we
encounter the Spider's Web which, like Indra's Web, vibrates
at all points when someone, or something, touches it.

What these Symbols are teaching us is this: Our Actions vibrate,
and continue to reverberate, throughout all of creation the moment
we commit an Act.  This reminds us that we must be very careful
of the Actions we put into motion; for they can bring Consequences
that not only affect our future, but also the future of others who may
be in the vibrational path of our Actions.

In addition, just as our Actions can have Unexpected Consequences
on others, the Actions of others can have Unexpected Consequences
upon us. Everything is Interconnected; everything is inter-twined;
every Action has its vibratory, and Karmic, Consequence.

A good way to picture the vibrations, and Interconnectedness, of
Actions is by way of the "Pebble Cast Into The Pond".

Imagine tossing a Pebble into a pond. The Pebble is basically
motionless from where it is tossed into the pond. It simply sinks
to the bottom and comes to a rest. However, the Pebble,
although appearing to be relatively insignificant, can have far-
reaching Consequences. In this seemingly insignificant way, the
Symbolism of the Pebble is similar to the Symbolism of the
Feather.

The ripples, the Consequences, caused by this seemingly
insignificant Pebble continue outward to form an expanding
Circle that ultimately affects the farther reaches of the pond.

Now, imagine this: At the same Time that we are casting our
Pebble into the pond, another person casts another Pebble into
the pond in the vicinity of where we cast ours. Now the expanding,
Circles created by the two Pebbles are going to create an
unexpected effect upon each other. Plus they will now both have
expanding Consequences upon the pond. This represents the
independent, and most likely innocent, Actions of only two
Pebbles.

Now, consider multiple people casting multiple Pebbles into the
same pond. These multiple Pebbles create multiple vibratory and
expanding Circles which have multiple and incalculable
Consequences upon each other. The pond never stops rippling.

And just as the pond never stops rippling from the many pebbles
(disturbances) cast into it, neither does either the Spider's Web, or
Indra's Web, stop vibrating from all of the Actions and disturbances
tossed upon them by the multitude of humanity. A humanity that is
vibrating these Webs every moment of every day.

And to carry this Symbolism and metaphor even one step further,
today's Consequences are not only affected by the Actions of
others, but also by the Actions of those who lived in the Past.

And consequently, the Actions (vibrations) created by people
today can very likely create Unexpected Consequences upon
those who live in the future.

Indra's Web, the Spider's Web, and the Pebble In The Pond,
Symbolize the Web of Life.

Every one of our Actions has a vibration, a ripple effect, that not
only affects today, but eternity as well. The moment we perform
an Action it is recorded in the Akashic Hall of Records with our
name next to it. And as our Actions affect not only today, but
vibrate well into the future, they can have a profound affect on
Times and Events not yet manifested.

With so many individuals currently vibrating so many parts of
the Web of Life, along with such a vast amount of unresolved
vibrations from the Past, it is easy to understand why we are
engulfed and overwhelmed with Consequences both expected
and unexpected.

With these Thoughts in mind, it is vitally important that we weigh
the potential Consequences of our Actions before we "toss our
Pebble into the Pond".

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011

Pacts vs Self-Reliance (Angels vs Demons)

"Independence is happiness."
- Susan B. Anthony

We live in a realm of Duality. A Duality which expresses itself in
many different ways.

Duality is the parent of Choices. And one of the many Choices we
are presented with during our Current Incarnation is the Choice
between whether we will live our life by way of Pacts, or by way of
Self-Reliance.

As always, there are various degrees contained within all forms of
Duality. However, if we look at how Duality expresses itself in its
greatest extremes it gives us a better feel for how Duality presents
itself to us in its lesser extremes.

Throughout mythology, legend, and ancient texts, one of the
ways in which Duality expresses itself is by way of Angels versus
Demons; or, good spirits versus evil spirits. The Lesson presented
here is that, if our Choices are Angelic in nature, we will be rewarded.
On the other hand, if our choices are Demonic in nature, we will be
bound to suffer the Consequences...often dire Consequences.

With these thoughts in mind, let us consider the differences
between Pacts and Self-Reliance in their most extreme degrees.

Pacts: When we enter into a Pact we automatically place ourselves
at the mercy of external Events, sub-events, plots, and sub-plots
which are entirely out of our control. As a matter of fact, we can
never rest assured that the other individual or entity will honor
their side of the Pact.

However, because we have entered into a Pact, and have made a
Promise, we are Karmically obligated to honor this Pact even if
conditions Change, or the other party fails to uphold their end of
the deal.

And because these underlying possibilities are built into the
foundation of every Pact, we can summarize a Pact as being
conditional, restrictive, manipulative, constrictive, and limiting.
In other words, Pacts can Force us to do certain things, things
we may deeply regret as the Pact develops a "life of its own".

Pacts also contain fine print and implied expectations.They also
come with "strings attached". Pacts can "paint us into Corners",
trick us into undesirable Compromises, and shackle us with
Self-Imposed Limitations.

It is for these reasons that Pacts are the preferred tools of
Demonic Creatures and evil spirits who use Pacts as harmless
looking bait to lure us into their domain.

We all have probably either read stories, or watched movies,
of someone who makes a "Pact with the Devil". This Pact always
starts out as something exciting, powerful, and full of fun.

However, conditions quickly begin to change and the person
who entered into the Pact begins to understand that there are
underlying Consequences which he, or she, had not taken into
consideration when they entered into the Pact. It is then that
the person wants to get out of the Pact but finds, to their great
dismay, that they cannot. For it is not the underlying conditions
that govern the Pact, it is the Pact itself that governs the Pact.

In the end, this poor, pitiful, gullible individual always succumbs
to the Consequences of the Pact.

It is important to keep in mind that whenever we enter into a
Pact we are relinquishing our Free Will and potentially exposing
ourselves to Karmic Consequences which we will have to deal
with at some future Time...perhaps even in future Incarnations.

Self-Reliance, on the other hand, is dependence upon ourselves.

And this is why it is the preferred tool of Spiritual Guides, Angels,
and the Good Spirits.

Mythology, folklore, ancient texts all speak of Angels and Good
Spirits offering Spiritual Guidance to those who wish to accept it.
The Instructions and Lessons bestowed upon humanity by these
High Beings come in the form of options, suggestions, and
guidance which honors our Free Will and allows us to Choose
whether or not we will follow any particular Path.

Angels, Spiritual Guides, and Good Spirits offer us their guidance
without any "fine print" or "strings attached". Their assistance does
not come with any impositions. Nor do they require any sort of Pact
from us when they offer assistance or encouragement.

These High Beings simply present their Truth to us and then leave
it up to us to either accept it or discard it. They do not threaten us
with any form of excommunication, penalty, or force if we do not
follow their guidance.

It is the Eternal Nature of these Good Spirit to promote boundless
freedom, unrestricted Choices, spiritual liberty, personal
Sovereignty, and self-Governance; all of which are our guaranteed
birthright the moment we enter our Current Incarnation.

They are fully aware that the only torments and disasters we can
experience are those which we bring upon ourselves when we
Choose to either ignore or violate Divine Law.

As always the Choice is entirely ours. It is up to us to Choose
whether we will live our life by way of restrictive and complex
Pacts, or, enjoy the Independence and Happiness, which are the
natural by-products, of Traveling upon the Simple, open, and
unrestricted Path of Self-Reliance.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011

Unintended Consequences

"Every action, no matter how small, has a consequence."
- "The Tale of Despereaux", Kate DiCamillo

"Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences."
- Norman Cousins

An Event can have two kinds of Consequences: Intended and
Unintended. Our Decisions, Choices, Actions and Words are Events
which we create and set in motion. We believe that the Events we
create will provide us with an Intended outcome. But, how
often have we experienced, often to our dismay, that Events which
we set in motion often result in Unintended, and unexpected,
Consequences which end up being ruinous not only to our intended
purpose but also our Current Incarnation? We tend to label these
Consequences as tragic.

On the other hand, how often have we also experienced that an
Unintended Consequence of an Event which we have set in motion
results in something more beneficial than we had originally
anticipated? We choose to label these Events as Serendipitous.
Serendipity is the discovery of something more surprising,
delightful, or beneficial than what we had originally been Seeking.

Creation, of which our Current Incarnation is an integral part, is a
series of Events. And every Event has a Consequence. We tend to
label these Consequences as either expected and intended, or, as
unexpected and unintended.

It is important to understand that once an Event has been set in
motion it develops a "life of its own" and cannot be stopped until it
has run its full course and comes to the end of its Cycle.

Furthermore, many Events are Interconnected with, and can overlap,
other Events. Whenever we set an Event in motion it can become
involved, or entangled, with other Events which are already "in play".
When this happens, these Events will very likely affect each other to
some degree.

Likewise, an Event which we set in motion can also interact with,
affect, and be affected by, other Events which have not yet been put
"in play".

It is the combining, or mingling, of our Event with these other Events
which can result in both our Event, and the Event it interacts with,
producing Consequences which are Unintended.

Events, along with their Interconnectedness and Consequences, are
represented Mythologically, Symbolically, and Esoterically by
Indra's Web, Kabbalah Paths, and The Spider's Web.

As every Event has a life of its own, it must run its complete Cycle.
Some Events take a long Time to "play out" while others take but a
short Time to complete their Cycle. Some Events have long-term
Consequences while others have short-time Consequences.

In the same way in which we are responsible for our Actions, so too
are we responsible for the Events that we put in motion. Therefore
we bare sole responsibility for the Karmic Consequences which
result from any Event we create regardless of whether these
Consequences are Intended or Unintended. Once we put an Event
in motion it is far too late for us to say, "I never intended for that
to happen".

The Law of Karma, being a Divine Principle, is not concerned with
whether we created an Event through haste, thoughtlessness,
malice, Ignorance, or good intentions. The Law of Karma simply
completes the Consequence of the Event which was put in motion
and presents the creator of the Event with either a Karmic Reward
or Karmic Debt.

Therefore, as we bare sole responsibility for our Actions, and the
Events we put in motion, it is vitally important that we Weigh our
Decisions and Actions very carefully and only place in motion
those Events which can bring us the greatest Peace, Contentment,
and Karmic Rewards.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

The Mirror - Symbol Of Reflection

The Mirror is a Symbol of physical and spiritual reflection.

The Symbolism associated with The Mirror has its roots in the very
distant past. Some of the oldest drawings found on temple walls
and papyrus scrolls depict images of Egyptian Neters gazing into
hand-held Mirrors.

In ancient times, Mirrors were made of polished bronze. Today,
Mirrors are made of glass. However, a Mirror can be any reflective
surface such as highly polished black stone or still Water.

In the material world of our Current Incarnation Mirrors are both a
necessity and convenience. We use Mirrors every day to reflect
physical images. We make use of rear-view Mirrors in our vehicles
to alert us of potential dangers and cautions behind us. We station
Mirrors at corners of buildings and hallways to "see" what is around
the corner. And, of course, we spend a fair amount of time every day
standing before our personal Mirrors while we preen ourselves prior
to going out into the world.

However, when we consider the esoteric, or mystic, Symbolism
associated with The Mirror we find that it alludes to a much higher
and sublime purpose...Spiritual Reflection!

Just as a physical Mirror is a reflection of how we currently appear,
and how the world around us currently appears, so too does our
Spiritual Mirror Truthfully reflect the Consequences of our actions
along with the Karmic rewards, or punishments, which the
consequences of our actions have brought upon us.

Our Spiritual Mirror reflects back to us our external surroundings. In
other words, our Spiritual Mirror shows us the people, places and
Events which are currently a part of the life we have created for
ourselves. By gazing at our external surroundings we are looking
directly into our Spiritual Mirror.

The Egyptian Neters, the Divine Principles of Nature referred to
earlier, gaze into their hand-held Mirrors in order to reflect upon
how they truly appear within the realm in which they are currently
expressing themselves. They are also gazing into their Mirrors in
order to "see" what consequences have been created as a result of
the Events which they have set in motion. In other words, they are
continually reflecting upon the results of their Thoughts and Actions
in an eternal process of self-evaluation.

Just as the Egyptian Neters gaze into their Divine Mirrors in order
to reflect upon themselves and ponder their thoughts and actions,
we too can use our very own personal Spiritual Mirrors to do the
very same.

In order for a Mirror to cast a reflection, it requires Light.
Symbolically, Light represents Illumination, Enlightenment,
Awareness and Wisdom. Therefore, in order for us to Honestly
evaluate ourselves and the world we have created around ourselves
when using our personal Spiritual Mirror, we must view our current
reflection with an Enlightened mind.

Keeping in mind that The Mirror can only reflect what is Truly
before it, whatever we view in our personal Spiritual Mirror is
currently the Truth of not only our Personality And Reputation
(who we are) but also the Truth of the world which we have created
around ourselves.

It is important to remind ourselves, however, that The Mirror
simply reflects that which is currently True. As Enlightened Beings
we have both the ability and responsibility to change our personal,
mental, and Spiritual reflection whenever we "see" something in our
Mirror that is not Harmonious with who we truly aspire to be. In
this way we are identical to the Egyptian Neters who gaze into their
hand-held Mirrors in an Eternal process of self-evaluation, self-
improvement, self-change and self-Enlightenment.

See also: "Personality and Reputation"

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

Pathways

There are an infinite number of Pathways we can choose to Travel
during our Current Incarnation. It is not unusual for us to travel
many different Pathways before we finally settle on the one Path
that is Harmonious with our Divine Nature.

Our Pathway of life consists of many forks and byways which lead
us from the main Path of our Divine Nature and invite us, or tempt
us, to try something new. These forks and byways provide us with
the opportunities to experiment with different ideas and
experiences.

Some of these ideas and experiences are Harmonious with our
Divine Nature and expand and elevate our character and
personality. Others, however, are not in Harmony with our Divine
Nature and can create all kind of problems, and even be disastrous,
to us.

Whenever we find ourselves on a Pathway which is not Harmonious
with who we are we should exit this Pathway immediately and treat
it as a learning experience; a learning experience which teaches us
to avoid these types of forks and byways in the future.

Whenever we choose a new Pathway we automatically subject
ourselves to all of the people, choices, experiences and consequences
which are a natural part of that particular Pathway.

For example: the people, choices, experiences and consequences
which are inherent to the Pathway of a comedian are entirely
different from the people, choices, experiences and consequences
inherent to the Pathway of an author, an engineer, a clergyman,
or a thief. Therefore, if we are not content with the people, choices,
experiences and consequences we are currently experiencing, we
merely need to Change Pathways and return to the one which is
most Harmonious with our Divine Nature.

It is important for us to realize that we are solely responsible for
the Pathways we choose to follow. We may be tempted to "try
something new", we may be acting on the Advice of a friend, or we
may be following the suggestion of an "education counselor" when
we choose a new Pathway in our life.

However, in the end, we are the ones who ultimately make the final
choice of which Pathway we are going to follow and experience.
And because this final choice is ultimately ours, we are therefore
solely responsible for the rewards, misfortunes, or Consequences
which are part of the Pathways we choose to follow.

When we look upon Pathways and Decisions in this manner we
begin to realize that neither the universe, nor any other Divine
Entity, either rewards or punishes us for the life we live. The
universe simply provides each one of us with a vast multitude of
Pathways on which to travel. It is our Choice of Pathways which
is the determining factor of what kinds of personalities, Destiny,
Karma, rewards, punishments, successes, failures and Lessons we
will encounter upon that particular Pathway.

Therefore, if we are currently unhappy with the Pathway we are
currently traveling, it is simply up to us to choose to leave our
current Pathway and select another Pathway which is in Harmony
with our Divine Nature and travel upon a Road which provides us
with the peace, Harmony, contentment and rewards which all of us
inwardly Seek.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

The Unicorn - As A Symbol

"Dreams are the playground of Unicorns."
- Unknown

Perhaps the most wondrous of all mystical creatures, the Unicorn
is a Symbol of magic, miracles, purity, innocence and enchantment.
This magical and enchanting animal appears to only a rare few and
has the ability to bestow magic, miracles and Wisdom to those who
are pure of heart and virtuous in their deeds.

The presence of a Unicorn is announced by the soft and faint
tinkling sound of tiny bells being shaken; or of tiny chimes being
rustled by a breeze. And as Bells and Chimes Symbolize the
presence of Divinity, the tinkling sound which accompanies the
nearness of a Unicorn reminds us that we are in the presence of
a highly spiritual essence whose boundless domain encompasses
all realms matter and spirit.

To kill a Unicorn is to destroy a Divine Incarnation of purity,
perfection, and wonder. It is a deed which burdens the individual who
commits the Act with an enormous Karmic debt.

The Unicorn is depicted as a white horse which has a long, straight,
spiral-shaped Horn protruding from the top of its head.

There are three basic Symbols contained in the Unicorn: the color
white, the horse, and the Horn:

The Horse is a Symbol of Travel and movement. And as the Unicorn
is a spiritual horse it has the ability to Travel and appear wherever,
and whenever, it wishes; it has the ability to appear throughout all
realms and dimensions.

White is the color of innocence, purity and perfection. White, which
is Symbolically similar to silver, represents the lunar, feminine
aspects of receptivity, instinct, intuition and virginity. Virginity in
its truest metaphysical and alchemical aspect represents the
unadulterated (untainted) mind and spirit; it is the prima materia
(pure matter) and the prisca sapientia (pristine knowledge, or
Wisdom). It is for this reason that to have a Unicorn appear to us
is both a great honor and Divine Gift. For, as stated before, only the
pure of heart and virtuous of deed are deserving to have a Unicorn
appear to them.

The Unicorn, unlike all other horned animals save perhaps the
rhinoceros, is a single-horned creature. While the two-horned
animals are linked, Symbolically, to the realm of duality and matter,
the Unicorn's single horn reminds us that its domain is the realm
of Unity; a realm that Transcends and exists beyond the bounds
of matter and duality.

The single, spiralled Horn is a Symbol of the endless, repeating
Cycles of Time. It is also Symbolic of the Sword. And as the Sword
Symbolizes the mind, the Unicorn's Horn also signifies Unity of
Thought and purity of reason. We also notice that this single Horn
protrudes from the top of the Unicorn's head which is the location
of the crown chakra. The crown chakra is a Border Between Realms;
it represents the highest level which our mind can attain and is the
Spiritual Gateway to the higher realms of Spirituality and Divine
Consciousness.

When depicted within a forest, the Unicorn represents purity and
enchantment amidst growth, birth, rebirth, renewal and fertility;
which are all feminine essences.

When a Unicorn is portrayed along with a lion it Symbolizes the
Union of the feminine (white, lunar) and masculine (Gold, solar)
aspects of our dual nature. This Symbolism also represents the
Alchemical Marriage.

In Chinese tradition the Unicorn is an "auspicious and perfect
spiritual beast which appears when sages are born". ***

As we can see, the Symbolism of the Unicorn is deep, pure, and
magical. And as very few individuals are pure and virtuous enough
to have a Unicorn appear to them we should feel very Blessed
should a Unicorn someday appear along our Path.

(See also: "The Phoenix", and
                   "The Alchemical Marriage and the Total Solar Eclipse")

*** "The Lost Language Of Symbolism", Harold Bayley

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

Words - And Their Power

"Everything becomes a little different
as soon as it is spoken out loud."
- Hermann Hesse

There are two ways in which we can manifest our Thoughts. One
way is through our Actions and the other way is through our spoken
Words. In both instances we take our Thoughts, concepts and ideas
out of the mental realm and place them in the physical realm...the
realm of the senses.

To turn a Thought into something sentient, something recognized
by the senses, is an act of Creation. Therefore, it is important for us
to remember that each time we speak, each time we utter a Word,
we create. And these creations of ours, our Words, can manifest
either good or ill. The Choice of our verbal creation is entirely up
to us.

When a Thought enters our mind there are three things we can do
with it: we can dismiss it, we can allow it to linger, or we can act
on it. Once we act upon a Thought by verbalizing it, the Words we
speak Become a living entity which can develop into either our best
friend or our worst enemy. Our spoken Words can create Karmic
rewards or Karmic debts. Our Words can bring people closer to us
or they can force people further from us. Our Words can turn into
either a Blessing, or a curse.

Let us look at some examples of how our spoken Words can have
an effect on ourselves and on others:

We may dislike another person, and that person may think and
feel that we dislike them, but until we actually tell the other person
that we dislike them no real harm has been done. However, once
we use Words to tell this other person how we feel about them we
create a living specter which will always stand between the two
of us.

We may care for, or appreciate, someone but until we actually
speak our Words of appreciation to this individual they will never
truly know how we feel. However, once we use Words to reveal
our feelings to this person an invisible and permanent bond forms
between the two of us and a new Relationship is created.

We may respect the efforts, behaviors and personality traits of
another individual, but until we compliment this individual with our
Words, they cannot ever fully realize that we appreciate them for
who they are and for what they do. However, once we use Words
to communicate our respect for this other person the Relationship
we currently have with this individual becomes elevated to an
entirely new level.

Words are powerful. We use Words to express ideas, bind
friendships, and make Promises. "His Word is his bond", or, "Her
Word is her bond" is the highest compliment one person can bestow
upon another; it firmly implies that the person being referred to is
trustworthy and honorable.

Words can be used to disarm a hostile adversary, comfort someone
in need, enter into commitments, or tell a lie. We can also use Words
to create emotions. Words are so powerful that they can produce
tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

Our Choice of Words not only creates the world around us but also
the world within us. Words define who we are and how we are
perceived by others. Our Words can make other people appreciate
us and enjoy our company or our Words can make us "distasteful"
to others and cause them to avoid our company.

Therefore, before we speak, we should be very careful of the Words
we Choose. For our Words determine who we are, who we will
Become, how we affect the world around us, and how we will
experience our Current Incarnation.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

Relationships

"For every thing there is a season,
and a time for every purpose under heaven."
-Ecclesiastes

Relationships are Cycles in our lives. And just like any other Cycle,
they serve a purpose for a specific duration of Time.

Good Relationships are gifts; they are Blessings. We should be
thankful for experiencing a good Relationship when it enters our life
and be prepared to let it go when its Cycle comes to an end.

Relationships, like Cycles, can be extremely short, extremely long,
or fall somewhere in-between.

An example of an extremely short Relationship is a stranger who
provides us with directions when we are lost. We are thankful to the
stranger and leave this Relationship with a warm feeling of kindness
toward this individual for entering our life at the appropriate Time
and giving us guidance.

An example of an extremely long Relationship would be a childhood
friendship which remains with us for the duration of our Incarnation.

Marriages and romantic intimacies are also Relationships which
can last for varying degrees of Time. Some marriages last a lifetime
for both partners. However, a large number of marriages last for
only a finite amount of Time before their Cycles come to an end by
either divorce or through the physical death of one of the partners.

Physical death of one of the partners is Divine termination of a
Relationship once its purpose - its Cycle - has been completed.
And although we may feel as if a gift has been taken from us when
such an Event occurs, we eventually come to realize that Divinity,
in Its Infinite Wisdom, has provided us with a golden, untarnished
Memory which will accompany us, and guide us, throughout the
remainder of our Incarnation.

When we think back on our Past and current Relationships we
come to realize that none of these Relationships started out as
"bad". They all began with excitement, expectation, Hopes, and
dreams. And although they may have eventually deteriorated into
a "bad" Relationship, they did not start out that way.

Perhaps the most difficult thing for us to understand, and accept,
in a Relationship is when its Cycle is coming to and end. Upon
recognizing that a Relationship is coming to an end we should be
prepared to end the Relationship with the same tenderness and
kindness with which it began. We should bow out gracefully and
take nothing but fond experiences and Memories with us. Ending
a Relationship in this fashion is a sign of respect, class, and Wisdom
which has a positive effect and leaves both partners with warm
and kind Lessons and memories as they continue down the Path
of their future.

Failing to understand when a Relationship is over, and failing to
close a Relationship with class, respect, and Wisdom turns a once
wonderful experience sour and creates ill-will and negative Karma
for the concerned individuals throughout the remainder of their
physical Incarnations.

Relationships are special gifts and Blessings bestowed upon
us by Divinity and should be experienced and respected as such.
However, should it become necessary to close a Relationship, we
should invoke, and employ, Wisdom in the closure process.
For Wisdom, by its very own perfect nature, will allow both
individuals to move on while maintaining warm Memories of a
Relationship that was once wonderful, exciting, and young.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

Forgiveness (Release and Acceptance)

"Do not judge your neighbor until you walk
two moons in his moccasins."
-Cheyenne Proverb

Words often have a funny way of playing tricks with our minds.
If we cannot fully grasp the meaning of a word we are unable to
understand the concept, or idea, which that word is designed to
describe. The word "Forgiveness" is one such Word.

But before we discuss the concept of Forgiveness, let us first
construct an avenue of Thought to help guide us to a satisfactory
understanding of what this word suggests.

Many spiritual texts teach us that we should be extremely cautious
of judging, criticizing or condemning others; that we should first walk
"two moons in their moccasins".

Each one of us is created different. There are no two people who
are alike. Some people are slightly different from us while others
are dramatically different from us; everyone else falls somewhere
in-between. We tend to Harmonize with (relate to) those individuals
who are similar to us and we tend to avoid those people who are
dramatically different from us.

Each one of us is a unique and Sovereign being who is solely
responsible for his, or her, Actions. Each person's Actions create
either a Karmic Debt, or a Karmic Reward. These Actions also
determine the Path which that person will Travel during his, or her,
Incarnation. If an individual performs Actions which are too far out
of line with the accepted "norms" of society, society will eventually
discipline or remove that person.

Because everyone is different, this means that each person is
acting out a different "role" during their Current Incarnation.
This, in and of itself, does not make that particular person either
"good" or "bad"; it simply means that everyone is different.
Once we accept this Universal Truth, it becomes a simple matter
of allowing only those persons, places, and things into our lives
which are Harmonious with our Divine Nature, and avoiding those
persons, places, and things which are not Harmonious with who
we are.

With our foundation now in place, let us now consider the concept
of Forgiveness.

Just as we must be extremely cautious of judging, condemning, or
criticizing others for being who they are in their Current Incarnation,
so, too, must we be extremely wary of imagining that we can
pompously "forgive" another person for being who they are; for
doing what they have done in the past; or, for doing what they will
do in the future.

Until we accept the Truth that each one of us is a different, unique ,
and Sovereign being, our ego will always find fault with others for
not being exactly like us; for not behaving exactly as we expect
them to behave; and for not doing the things we think they should
be doing. As long as we maintain an attitude of we are right and
everyone else is wrong we will continually feel that we we must
"forgive" others for every little bruise and "owie" they inflict upon
our precious and delicate ego.

To carry this concept of Forgiveness one step further, we may as
well forgive the trees for not coming over to us to provide us with
shade when we require it; we may as well forgive the chipmunk
for going into our picnic basket and feasting on one of our deserts;
heck, we may as well also forgive the sun for making us sweat.

If we carry this mis-understood, and mis-guided, concept of
Forgiveness to its extreme, we would spend our entire life forgiving
every person, animal, plant, place, and thing for being what they
were created to be and we would never accomplish anything for
ourselves.

When we break down the word Forgive we find that it consists of
the two Words "fore" and "give". Fore means beforehand and Give
means to bestow, to release, to understand. Therefore, the Word
Forgive can be translated to mean: to understand, or release,
beforehand. When we accept people, places, animals, and things
for what they truly are beforehand, there is no need, whatsoever,
for us to be entrapped by this misguided concept of Forgiveness.
We now begin to see forgiveness as one big "guilt trip" laid upon
us by the various factions of society.

Furthermore, in order for us to feel that we must "forgive", we must
first hold a grudge or have a "score to settle". In effect, we are
chaining ourselves to - we are embracing and living in - The Past.
This holding on to The Past, whether it is a bitter Relationship, a
deep sorrow, or a festering wound, is in fact a mental continuation
of a Relationship or Event which no longer exists; we are binding
ourselves to a Self-Imposed Limitation of our own making.

When we Choose to Release, and no longer live in, The Past, it
becomes impossible for us to hold a "grudge". Once we no longer
hold a grudge, there is no longer anything for us to "forgive".
Upon reaching this level of Awareness we accept The Past for
what it truly is: a mental repository of experiences and Lessons,
a Wizard's Staff, which trains us on how to handle, and anticipate,
future situations.

By Accepting, and understanding, all persons, places, Events, and
things for what they truly are, and by Releasing all Past mental
miseries from our lives, we banish the specter of Forgiveness from
our egos. We rid ourselves of all false bonds and misguided guilts
which have deceptively gained access to our mind. We become free
to experience and enjoy our future without any mental shackles to
those Past persons, places, Events, and things which have been
hampering our physical, mental, and spiritual growth. It is at this
point that we are able to merrily prance into each new tomorrow
in pursuit of our dreams, ambitions, and personal Destiny.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

Seeds - Symbols of Tomorrow's Garden

"We sow our thoughts and reap our actions.
We sow our actions and reap our habits.
We sow our habits and reap our character.
We sow our character, and we reap our destiny."
-Unknown

Nothing grows until a Seed is first planted. In the material realm
we must first plant physical seeds in Mother Earth in order for our
outdoor garden to grow, blossom, and bear fruit. In the mental
realm we must first plant Karmic Seeds within Our Subconscious.

These Karmic Seeds are the Thoughts, Choices, and Decisions
which determine our Actions. Our Actions will thence create those
future Consequences which we will eventually find ourselves
having to confront and deal with. And, just as we are responsible
for the Karmic Seeds we plant within ourselves, so too are we
responsible for the fruits, the Consequences, which these Karmic
Seeds produce.

Packets of Karmic Seeds come in three different varieties:

Seeds of Negative Action: Just like any other Seed, these Seeds
start out as small and almost insignificant behaviors. These are
the Seeds of gossip, complaint, ridicule, envy, jealousy, worry and
dissatisfaction that we cultivate when we become obsessed with
external Events and the behaviors of other individuals.

Once these Seeds take root within us they grow into larger and
more intense negative behaviors which create larger and more
intense negative Consequences until we eventually find ourselves
reaping the Karmic fruits of hatred, misery, anxiety, fear, and
paranoia.

Seeds of Inaction: Again, these Seeds start our small but
eventually grow into something much larger with the passing of
Time. We plant these Seeds in one of two ways.

The first way is when we accept the false Belief that we have nothing
left to live for. The second way is when we celebrate our "retirement"
by Choosing to never again do anything which resembles "work" or
requires "effort". These kinds of Decisions are common traps which
ensnare multitudes of individuals every single day.

When we plant Seeds of Inaction, we have, in effect, planted nothing
positive today. Therefore, nothing positive has any chance of bearing
fruit tomorrow. Seeds of Inaction are seeds of barrenness: a
barrenness which will continue to spread within us, and eventually
dominate us.

Seeds of Inaction are also the Seeds of atrophy. They cause our
minds and wills to grow weak instead of strong. These Seeds
produce monotony, discontent, boredom and, again, misery.
These conditions will continue to exist and expand in our lives until
we make a conscious and determined effort to do something that
creates positive Change.

Seeds of Positive Action: Tiny yet mighty. Seeds of Positive
Action consist of any new knowledge, skills, ideas, philosophies,
hobbies, crafts, and ideals we Choose to plant in our mental and
spiritual garden. These Seeds eventually grow and blossom into
creative and positive aspects which become a permanent part of
our character, our Speech, and our Actions. Also, it is within the
Seeds of Positive Action that serendipity, luck, and good fortune
reside.

Symbolically, Seeds of Positive Action are the Seeds contained
within the Pomegranate which magically appears in our garden and
bestows upon us unexpected opportunities, insights, Blessings,
prosperity, and Abundance.

When we plant Seeds of Positive Action we excitedly look forward
to each new day in anticipation of the joys, mysteries, and Lessons
which await us. By sowing these positive Karmic Seeds we
maintain a sharp mind, a youthful exuberance and a healthy glow.

Our mind is a fertile field. We reap what we sow. We simply have to
Choose which packet of Seeds we are going to plant in our mental
garden. And being this Choice is entirely up to us, we may as well
Choose the packet which contains the Seeds of Positive Action.

Furthermore, in addition to our personal Thoughts, the fertile field
of our mind is also subject to the people with whom we associate,
the places we visit and the situations in which we become involved.

Wise Seekers understand the Consequences which can result from
the people, places and situations (fields) they encounter throughout
their Travels. Therefore they seek out only those fields which contain
the highest quality Seeds and avoid those fields which contain tainted
and low quality Seeds.

When the Wise Seeker stumbles upon a field which contains tainted,
low quality Seeds he, or she, immediately removes themself from
that particular field and moves on in search of those fields which are
tilled with the highest quality Seeds. For it is within the richly
Seeded fields that the Wise Seeker will find the Peace, Harmony,
Wisdom and true friendships which are always the ultimate objective
of his or her Journey.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009