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

The Pomegranate - Symbol and Myth

The Pomegranate is a fruit that has a hard outer shell within which
there is a multitude of small tasty Seeds. The Pomegranate appears
often in Symbolism and Mythology. Because this fruit contains an
enormous amount of Seeds, it is regarded as a Symbol of fertility,
prosperity, Abundance and generosity.

In mythology, the Pomegranate is a featured symbol in the
Abduction of Persephone.

One day, when Persephone was wandering about the earth she was
noticed by Hades, Lord of the Underworld, who instantly fell in love
with her. Hades abducted Persephone and took her to his domain in
the underworld to live with him as his wife and queen.

Demeter, Persephone's mother, upon noticing that her daughter
had been abducted by Hades immediately caused all plants to
stop growing upon the face of the earth. Trees, flowers, fruits,
vegetables and grains all ceased to grow.

Demeter then filed a grievance with Zeus, regarding the abduction
of her daughter by Hades, in which she informed Zeus that she
would not allow any growth to occur on earth until Persephone
was returned to her.

Although Zeus was not interested in becoming involved with the
affairs of other gods and goddesses, he also realized that he could
not allow the earth to remain cold and barren for this would mean
the end of all life on the planet.

Zeus eventually mediated an agreement between Demeter and
Hades in which Persephone would spend half of the year on earth
and the other half of the year in the underworld. Demeter consented
to this agreement and for the half of the year in which Persephone
walked upon the earth Demeter allowed the plants to grow, blossom
and bear fruit. For the six months that Persephone spent in the
underworld Demeter caused all growth to go dormant.

This agreement between Demeter, Zeus and Hades enabled
Persephone to be the only other being, mortal or immortal, besides
Hermes (Mercury) and Hades himself, who was permitted to leave
the underworld after having entered its confines.

An interesting point to consider in this particular myth is the fact
that when Persephone is portrayed with her husband, Hades, in
the underworld she is not depicted as someone who has been
abducted and held prisoner against her will. Her countenance is
that of a contented woman who is both wife and queen to her
beloved husband.

We also notice that Persephone is often portrayed holding a
Pomegranate in her hand. Since the Pomegranate is the Symbol
of fertility and Abundance this reminds us that when Persephone
arrives upon the earth, in the springtime, she brings with her all
the Seeds of fertility, prosperity, and Abundance. This is the time
when the earth is in full bloom and life rejoices. In autumn, when
she returns to her husband and her Queendom in the underworld,
she takes the Pomegranate with her. During this time of the year
the earth goes dormant...it sleeps...it rests.

The tale of Persephone and the Pomegranate is a metaphor for the
continual cycle of growth, dormancy and re-growth which governs
all things in the physical realm.

This myth also reminds us that when Persephone returns to the
underworld, and the world goes dormant, the Seeds of growth,
fertility and Abundance do not vanish from the world forever. They
are kept eternally warm and protected deep within the womb of
Mother Earth and await the next annual earthly visit of Persephone
and the Cycle of Abundance, growth and prosperity which she, and
her fertile Pomegranate, brings to us.

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

Cornucopia - Symbol for Abundance

The Cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty, is a spiral-shaped Horn from
which fruits, vegetables, flowers, and grains pour forth in limitless
Abundance.

On the material plane, the Cornucopia is a Symbol which reminds
us that Mother Nature perpetually provides us with everything we
require to sustain and nourish ourselves. While we are eating a
grape, Mother Nature is at work growing another grape. While we
are eating an apple, Mother Nature is at work growing another
apple.

In addition, the Cornucopia also Symbolizes the many different
Roads each one of us can Travel while making our Choices,
Seeking our opportunities, and pursuing our Destiny.

The Cornucopia also reminds us that this Abundance is available
to everyone. And although we may not personally enjoy all of the
nourishments Mother Nature makes available to us, there are
other persons who enjoy those items which do not appeal to us.
In the end, the inexhaustible bounties of Mother Nature are
enjoyed by all.

However, the Symbolism of the Cornucopia is not limited to only
the physical realm. The Cornucopia also Symbolizes perpetual
replenishment in both the mental and spiritual realms.

In the mental realm it Symbolizes the boundless Abundance of
opportunities, ideas, and Choices which Divinity makes available
to each one of us. Regardless of how many Thoughts, ideas,
opportunities, and imaginings we may experience and enjoy,
the universe continually provides an inexhaustible Abundance of
these notions and experiences and makes them available to all
who Choose to partake in them.

In the spiritual realm, the Cornucopia Symbolizes the infinite
supply of Spiritual Guidance which is available to all who Seek it.
Regardless of how much enlightenment and spiritual advancement
we may attain, Divine Generosity maintains a continuous and
endless supply of enlightenment and Abundance for all who Choose
to participate in this Spiritual Buffet.

Sometimes we may feel that this material plane we have Incarnated
into is a jumble of confusion, complexity, and chaos. However,
if we look at these things for what they are we find that they are
simply a Cornucopia of Choices and options that are made available
to all of us so that we may select, and enjoy, those things which are
in Harmony with our Divine Nature...our personality. Without a
Cornucopia of Choices we would not be able to select those things
we need and desire in order to properly experience, and enjoy, our
current earthly 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 2009

Change - The Eternal Constant

"Change is the Essence of life...
Be willing to surrender what you are
for what you could become."
-Unknown

What a paradox we humans are! In the ephemeral (short-lived)
scheme of things we embrace Change in all of its many aspects.
Yet, in the grander scheme of things we continually do battle with
Destiny and fight to cling to those things whose Time has passed.

The Universe is continually expanding and Changing - it exists and
thrives on Change. And we, as Children of The Universe, also crave
Change - no matter how vigorously we may Choose to argue the
opposite.

Let's take a look at the many ways we Choose Change in our lives
when it comes to short-term Changes:

We Change the color Choices of our wardrobes and our homes - the
colors we preferred a few brief years ago are not the same colors
we prefer today. We Change our preferences in automobiles and
architecture styles. We Change our homes, we Change the cities in
which we live, we Change our jobs, and we even Change spouses.

We Change our clothing styles and hairstyles. We dye our hair only
to eventually return it to its original color. We grow mustaches and
beards...then we shave them off.

We even bring Change into our lives on a daily basis: we wore blue
yesterday so we must wear red today because, surely, we can't
wear the same color, or outfit, today as we wore the day before!
How many of us make a Ceremony out of standing in our closet
while we pick out an outfit to wear tomorrow that is different from
the one we wore today? We make all these Changes in our hunger
to experience our lives in slightly new and different ways.

However, when it comes to long-term, constructive Change we
take an entirely opposite approach. We presume that the way
things are today are the way they will remain forever and we plan
our futures, careers and Relationships based upon this presumption.

Careers in which we have trained ourselves when we were eighteen
years old may no longer be in demand today. Yet we cling to them
nonetheless. Relationships, both personal and social, that we
established many years ago may no longer be Harmonious with who
we are today. Yet we continue to hold on to their monotonous
familiarity. We also steadfastly embrace old Beliefs and Opinions
which are no longer valid...if, in fact, they ever were.

All Cycles, whether universal, social or personal, come to an end.
When a particular Cycle comes to an end, a new and opposing
Cycle replaces it. When we refuse to accept this Eternal Truth,
we find ourselves building our personal foundations upon the
shifting sands of Eternal Change. This causes us to become molded
(crystallized) into an existence of melancholy, regret, struggle,
stubbornness and emptiness.

We all accept the fact that Cycles begin and Cycles end. However,
we also seem to think that this Eternal Law pertains to everyone
else but us as we attempt to build ever-lasting monuments upon
the ever-turning Wheel of Eternal Change.

Once we allow ourselves to accept the Truth that Change is Eternal
we then also accept the fact that our life, our Incarnation, is one long,
long Road - a Road which offers us many different opportunities to
experience the various interesting aspects of our Divine Nature.
By embracing Change, we find ourselves gazing toward that distant
Horizon in which the Fruits, Adventures and fulfillments of our
personal Destiny constantly beckon us to "Come Hither".

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

The Ladder - Symbol of Ascension

Symbolically, The Ladder is a connection between the world of
matter below with the domain of Spirit above. It symbolizes the
spiritual stairway which enables a Seeker or Initiate to ascend to
higher realms of consciousness in the Quest for Spiritual
Perfection.

The Ladder, which is rich in Symbolism and Metaphor, consists
of Horizontal Rungs and two Vertical Uprights. The Horizontal
rungs represent progressively higher levels of consciousness
and the two Vertical Uprights, (I I), represent the symbol for
duality.

The horizontal rungs remind us that our spiritual journey is
upward, and the vertical uprights remind us that our upward
journey occurs within the realm of duality.

As The Ladder has no moving parts, it symbolizes ascension
by way of personal Desire and Effort. The Ladder also reminds us
that reaching the highest realms of consciousness is not a short,
swift journey. Each rung represents a gradual ascent whereby
Wisdom, knowledge, enlightenment and perfection are earned
by us one step at a time. However, we must also keep in mind
that no journey is without its rests and pauses. Therefore,
whenever we require a respite during our spiritual ascent, the
rungs of The Ladder provide us with the support and strength we
need until we are ready to take our next step upward.

In addition, The Symbol of the Ladder also reminds us that our
upward ascent, from the bottom-most rung to the upper-most rung,
is a journey through the realm of duality. Before we can step up
to the next higher rung on The Ladder we must first experience and
master the Lessons of duality which exist at our current level of
elevation.

As we steadfastly ascend the rungs of The Ladder we slowly elevate
ourselves, higher and higher, above the lower plane of the superficial
and mundane. Upon reaching the higher rungs of The Ladder, we
begin to breathe in the rarefied air of Higher Consciousness. It is at
these higher levels of consciousness that the mysteries of Eternity
slowly begin to un-veil their secrets to us.

When we reach the top-most rung of The Ladder we enter the
realm of highest consciousness. We have now left the frustrations,
confusions and restraints of the material world well below us and
are now finally able to enjoy the purified realm of angels, higher
spirits, and Divinity. Through our personal Desire and Effort we
have Transcended Duality and achieved entrance into the Infinite
Domain of Enlightenment and Unity.

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

Master Teachers - Ancient Spiritual Guides

"The hopes of the instructed are better
than the wealth of the ignorant."
-Epictetus

Master Teachers have been called by many different names
throughout Time: Thoth, Hermes, Solomon, Christ, Buddha,
Confucius, Veracocha, Quetzalcoatl...

And although Master Teachers have not walked upon the earth for
millenia, their Thoughts, Wisdom, and Esoteric Instructions remain
eternally available to each and every one of us by way of Symbolism,
Mythology, Sacred Writings and the Oral Traditions of Indigenous
Cultures.

Master Teachers are revered for the sublime levels of Spiritual
Enlightenment which they attained: Enlightenments which they
passed on to both their Students and to all future generations.
Master Teachers also possessed certain Divine Characteristics.
Characteristics which caused them to be held in the most highest
esteem by the men and women of their Time.

Master Teachers were Sovereign individuals who possessed a
profound understanding of both their inner and outer worlds.
They understood the Cycles and patterns which govern Time,
the universe, and humanity. They also possessed a very deep
understanding of their Spiritual Nature, their Atman.

Their Spiritual Alignment and Harmony was the result of the years
they spent in contemplation and meditation. Spirituality was their
way of life. They understood the interaction and Interdependence
which exists between the world of matter and the realm of Spirit;
they were Aware of the interplay of opposites which permeate our
daily lives, and; they had a deep respect for the Spirit which resides
within all Thought and matter.

Master Teachers neither demanded, nor expected, a following. They
imposed their Teachings on no one. They Simply imparted their
Wisdom, left their Footprint, and moved on - leaving their audiences
Free to do whatever they Chose with the Wisdom which had just
been bestowed upon them.

Furthermore, Master Teachers did not demand that any buildings
be erected to their "cause". Neither did they expect organizations
be established to "preach" on their behalf. The Master Teachers
Simply reminded us that Spirit dwells within us; that our body is the
Temple of Divinity which we are Free to enter whenever we Choose
by going within ourselves, meditating, and Seeking Inner Guidance.

Master Teachers brought Spiritual Philosophy, Divine Principles,
and Ancient Wisdom to the many people they visited. Their
Teachings have withstood the "test of Time" and are available to
every one of us. We Simply need to Seek them out, absorb their
Timeless Wisdom and follow their Spiritual Guidance.

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

The Femur - As A Symbol

The Femur, or thigh bone, has been a Sacred Symbol since the
earliest beginnings of time. It symbolizes strength, power, support
and regeneration.

The Femur symbolizes Strength and Power in that it can support
30 times the weight of a human adult. It symbolizes Regeneration
in that its role is the creation of new blood cells.

The Femur also further symbolizes Support in that it is the bone
on which we place our books and purses when we are in a sitting
position. It is the bone which supports our elbow when we assume
a thoughtful pose - as in the sculpture of "The Thinker". Our Femurs
are also the bones which support our children when they sit on
our lap.

In Ancient Egypt The Femur was symbolized by the uas (was)
scepter: a staff of authority held by the Egyptian Neters which
symbolized their power, support and eternal renewal. The uas
scepter, just like the Femur, consists of a "ball joint" on one of its
ends and a "socket joint" on its other end.

The Femur has also been used as an alternate symbol of the Big
Dipper constellation in which the thigh represents the dipper portion
of the constellation while the leg represents the handle portion which
rotates around the pole star and represent the Cycles of Eternity.
(For further insights on the Big Dipper, see: The Shooting Star -
Symbol and Myth)

The Femur is also depicted in the very ancient and familiar symbol
of the Skull and Crossbones in which two crossed Femurs are
placed below a skull. In this symbol, the skull represents the
domain of the mind and the Femurs represent the realm of Duality,
or matter. The two crossed Femurs, in addition to symbolizing
strength and regeneration, also represent the intersection of the
spiritual and material realms; which are part of our Dual nature
and discussed in further detail in The Union of Duality and Weaving.

Ancient symbols contain the lessons and Eternal Truths which have
been handed down to us from the most forgotten beginnings of time.
The more we explore, and understand, these symbols the more we
come into touch with the very interesting Wisdom, reverence and
instructions of our distant ancestors which assist us in governing
our travels during 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 2009

The Shooting Star - Symbol and Myth

The Shooting Star has been revered with awe and amazement
throughout history. To better understand why this has been so,
we must first imagine the night sky under which Ancient cultures
viewed the many heavenly wonders.

Unlike the night sky under which we live today, which is blotted out
by big city light pollution, Ancient cultures lived under a vast, dark
canopy which was wondrous, awe-inspiring and Eternal.

The night sky of the Ancients contained an infinite abundance of
Stars, planets (the Wanderers), constellations, comets, meteors
and Shooting Stars.

During certain times of the year, the Ancients would experience
meteor showers streaking across the sky. They envisioned these
streaking lights to be the Lightening bolts of eternal forces which
were at war with each other.

Occasionally, one of these streaking lights would fall from heaven
and tumble to earth as a ball of fire. Since fire is the Symbol for
light, illumination and enlightenment, the Ancients perceived that
these balls of fire which plummeted to earth contained the Breath,
Essence and Enlightenment of Divinity. In effect, these Ancient
cultures considered Shooting Stars to be "gifts of the gods".

Shooting Stars consist of iron. Therefore iron, which was bestowed
upon the Ancients in a fiery package from Heaven, was also
considered to be a Spiritual Gift which contained all of the Aspects
of Divinity. The Ancients used this "gift of the gods" to fashion
their tools, weapons and sacred implements.

Perhaps the most interesting implement fashioned by the Ancient
Egyptians was the one that was crafted for the Opening of the Mouth
funerary Ceremony.

During this Ritual an iron bar, in the shape of the Big Dipper,
was used to Ceremoniously "pry open" the mummified mouth of
the recently deceased. The iron in this Ceremonial instrument
symbolically represented the Essence and Breath of Divinity which
was reverentially pried into the mouth of the deceased so that the
Breath and Essence of Divinity could accompany the deceased
throughout his, or her, journey through the afterlife.

The Symbolism contained in designing this iron instrument in the
shape of the Big Dipper alluded to the fact that the front part of the
ladle of the Big Dipper points directly to, and appears to be attached
to, the pole star. This symbolically causes the Big Dipper to rotate
around the pole star, as do the handles of a clock, thereby forming a
Circular path around an unmoving center point. This rotation
creates the Sacred Symbol of a Dot Within A Circle.

Additionally, in other sections of Egyptian funerary scripts, Deity
would be invoked to "open up your iron gates" in order to allow
the recently deceased entrance into the realm of the Infinite.

The Shooting Star has mesmerized individuals throughout the
course of history. Even today we have a ritual of making a wish
upon seeing a Shooting Star in the Hope that Divinity will grant
our request. Whenever we make a wish upon a Shooting Star we
are sharing the same awe and respect for Divinity as did our
Ancient ancestors many, many centuries ago.

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

Blessings

"The proud man counts his newspaper clippings,
the humble man his blessings."
-Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

"When I started counting my blessings,
my whole life turned around."
-Willie Nelson

Blessing are the simple little gifts of Divinity which are bestowed
upon us nearly every day. They come to us in invisible little gift
boxes which contain no colorful gift wrapping, fancy bow or cute
little card to announce their arrival. Blessings are delivered to us
quietly and unannounced. It is up to us Seekers to recognize these
invisible little gifts when they come our way and be thankful and
appreciative for receiving them.

But what are these Blessings that we are supposed to recognize,
appreciate and be thankful for receiving?

To begin with, every morning most of us wake up with the Blessings
of our health, basic comforts, peace of mind and a good night's
sleep. These Blessings alone are a pretty good way to begin our
day. However, this is just the beginning of our day and our gift bag
will be full of numerous other blessings before our day is finished.

With these Thoughts in mind, let us take a look at some of the many
other Blessings which go into our gift bags every day.

Blessings as Common Courtesies: These are the kindnesses
and favors which are bestowed upon us by others. Some examples
of these kinds of Blessings are: the person who holds a door open
for us; a courteous driver who lets us enter a long line of traffic; a
child who smiles us and waves "hello"; a bank teller who opens a
new window to help us conduct our business more quickly; a
college professor who meets with us on his, or her, day off to offer
us guidance, and; coupons (or sales) which appear for us on items
we are suddenly in need of purchasing.

Common Courtesy Blessings come to us every day in many different
forms. They are the Feather, the "little things", that bring joy into
our lives.

Blessings as Divine Intercession: Symbolically, these types
of Blessings are represented by The Hand In The Cloud. These
Blessings take the form of answers and Insights that come to us
in our dreams, during meditations, "out of the blue", and during
conversations with friends and strangers.

Divine Intercession Blessings also occur in the form of unexpected
opportunities; a rare winter snowstorm in the desert; and,
butterflies, lightening bugs and the whisper of the breeze through
the trees.

While Blessings are being bestowed upon us every day, often we
are too immersed with our own "problems" and "misfortunes" to
recognize them. So, they pass us by.

However, recognizing and being thankful for our small blessings
prepares us to be able to recognize and be thankful for the greater
Blessings and opportunities which Divinity has prepared for us:
Blessings and opportunities which also come to us "Free Of 
Charge!"

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

Beliefs

"We enter our current incarnation spiritually wise
but materialistically ignorant.
It is our abandonment of spiritual wisdom solely
for the sake of materialistic gain which is the
source of all our woes.
-Joseph Panek

When we consider the many different "beliefs" we are burdened
with throughout our life, it is easy to understand why Truth,
Wisdom and Harmony seem so elusive to us and why we often
feel confused.

Since many of these Beliefs become part of our character, it is
important for us to understand how we obtain them. Once we
understand the source of our Beliefs we become better able to
"weed out'' those pestering Beliefs which are not in Harmony with
our Divine Nature.

Let's consider some examples of how Beliefs are ingrained within us:

What we are taught to believe: These are the earliest Beliefs
to which we are introduced. These Beliefs come to us from parents,
teachers, relatives and neighbors. These are people whom we trust;
people who are very dear to us; people we rely upon to advise, teach,
and protect us when we are very young. In addition, these individuals
sincerely believe that the Beliefs they are instilling in us are sound
and true.

But regardless of how well-intentioned the Beliefs of these persons
may be, if they are erroneous beliefs to begin with, the Consequences
that these Beliefs have upon us will ultimately be harmful, and
perhaps even calamitous, to our life-experience.

One of the most common, and earliest, mis-Beliefs which we are
introduced to is that we must "follow the crowd", "fit in", and not
"rock the boat".

When we follow this common Belief we relinquish our individuality.
We forsake our Free Will to Think our own pure Thoughts, experience
our true personal feelings, and imagine our most wondrous dreams.
We then find ourselves taken off our personal, unobstructed Path
and forced into the traffic jam, the "rat race", of the masses. We
become diverted from the Spiritual Purpose of why we were placed
into our Current Incarnation.

What we are trained to believe: Although we may envision
regimented Beliefs to be part of a militaristic or monastic setting,
these types of Beliefs are also imposed upon us by way of corporate
"training" and group involvement.

Regimented Beliefs are a form of conversion, or brainwashing, in
which we are disciplined to believe that "we" are better than "them".
It is the replacing of Instruction and open-mindedness with training
and Indoctrination.

Regimented Beliefs coerce us to believe that: our product is better
than theirs; our organization is superior to theirs; our Beliefs are
right and their Beliefs are wrong; and, our cause is holy and just
while "they" need to be saved. Regimented Beliefs put us at odds
with, instead of in union with, our world-wide brethren.

In a regimented Belief type of setting, we are often required to don
uniforms which are designed to fracture our individuality and help
ease us into being assimilated into the thought process of that
particular group.

The unfortunate result of regimented Belief organizations is that
they demand unconditional obedience to their dogmas from all
of their "followers".

Many people turn to groups and organizations in search of Wisdom,
Truth, and Enlightenment only to often find that they are
disappointed, and perhaps even deceived, by the same organizations
and institutions which profess to honor and provide the Truth,
Enlightenment, and Instruction which these individuals are Seeking.

What we think we believe (a phantom most deceptive):
Unfounded conclusions are the bane of humanity. Quite often,
what we think we Believe is usually a combination of what we are
taught to Believe and what we are trained to Believe. This is why
it is so easy to be fooled, and disappointed, by what we think we
Believe.

What we think we Believe are, in fact, false Beliefs which enter our
lives by way of unfounded Opinions, gossip, rumors, subliminal
suggestions, media propaganda, and a lack of research, Awareness
and insight on our part.

We fall victim to this type of Belief when we allow our ego, laziness,
and complacency to replace reason, research and intuition.

What we truly believe: This is knowledge and Wisdom which is
gained through Self-Instruction, personal investigation and unbiased
evaluation. It is the Seeking out of what is - not what "should be".
True Belief is being in Harmony with both our Divine Nature and the
external world of our Current Incarnation.

True Beliefs are the Truths, Wisdom, and knowledge which we have
taken the time to un-Veil for ourselves. True Beliefs require great
effort on our part; they must be earned. This is why they are so
rare. However, each True Belief we uncover brings us one step
closer to the Star of Enlightenment which beckons us to continue
down the wondrous and mysterious Path of our current earthly
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