There is a lot of talk about 2020 being the year to set a new vision for one’s self and stepping into the best life you can dream of. Change theorists will say that our normal state of being is chaos – from that, we can create our world and its reality.  This sounds crazy, over-the-top,  a  rose-coloured glass type of reality.  Yet if we resist change, we will stop growing, learning, exploring or risking to try something different; to be something different.  We will never get a different result from what we already have if we continue doing what we’ve always done, always thought and always felt.

Throughout history, many versions of the Hero’s Story abound.  And although the characters, locations and situations are different, the main themes remain universal.  Looking at the works of people like Joseph Campbell, C.S. Lewis, Carl Jung, George Lucas, Albert Broccoli, J.R.Tolkien and J.K. Rowling, we can easily see the archetypal story of the Hero unfold.  Joseph Campbell called it the monomyth – the story which is understood by everyone, everywhere, throughout history and eternity, at a primal/cellular level.

So what is the Hero’s Journey really about?  To answer this question, let’s look at Carol Pearson’s book,  Awakening the Heroes Within”

“We find a model for learning how to live in stories about heroism. The heroic quest is about saying Yes to yourself and, in so doing, becoming more fully alive and more effective in the world.  For the Hero’s Journey is first about taking a journey to find the treasure of your True Self and then about returning home to give your gift to help transform the kingdom – and, in the process, your own life.  The quest itself is replete with dangers and pitfalls, but it offers great rewards:  the capacity to be successful in the world, knowledge of the mysteries of the human soul, the opportunity to find and express your unique gifts in the world and to live in loving community with other people.”   (p.1)

“… The paradox of modern life is that at the same time that we are living in ways never done before and therefore daily recreating our world, our actions often feel rootless and empty.  To transcend this state, we need to feel rooted simultaneously in history and eternity.  This is why the myth of the hero is so important in the contemporary world.  It is a timeless myth that links us to peoples of all times and places.  It is about fearlessly leaping off the edge of the known to confront the unknown, and trusting that when the time comes, we will have what we need to face our dragons, discover our treasures, and return to transform the kingdom.  It is also about learning to be true to ourselves and live in responsible community with one another.”  (p.2)

When do we know when it is time to embark on our personal journey?  Usually, it starts with a sense that something is not quite right; things are not as we would want them to be; inner restlessness or distractions that won’t leave us alone. It may not make sense to anyone else but ourselves.

Stage One of the Journey is called the Preparation Stage.  It will challenge us to prove our competence, courage, our fidelity to high ideals.  Testing, trials, tribulations abound in an effort to make us prove our worthiness for this treasure.

Archetypes associated with this stage include the Innocent (teaches trust and optimism), the Orphan (teaches us to provide for ourselves and stop relying on others), the Warrior (teaches setting goals and strategies, develop courage and discipline) and the Career (teaches caring for others and ourselves).  These four basic archetypes teach us how to live in the world. They are necessary if we are to be successful in completing the Journey.

Stage Two of the Journey is simply called The Journey. Now, we leave the comfort and safety of all we’ve known and embark upon a quest where we encounter death, suffering and love. If we have prepared ourselves well, we will find a way through this journey. During this time, we become transformed.  In myths, this is usually symbolized by the finding of a great treasure or sacred object.

 Archetypes associated with this stage include the Seeker (searching for something that satisfies our yearning), the Destroyer (initiation through suffering, takes away what we thought was essential to ourl lives) the Lover (a new love for people, causes, places, work; forces a commitment from us to birth our true self) and the Creator (helps us express this new self in the world and start the return to our queen/kingdom).These four basic archetypes teach us the basic process of dying to the old self and giving birth to the new self. This process prepares us to return to our queen/kingdom and change our lives.

 Stage Three of the Journey is called The Return.  As the journey comes to an end, we come to realize that we are the rulers of our own Queen/Kingdom.  Upon return, we might be upset with the state of our world, but because of our new-found self-knowledge, skills and understandings we can transform our world into the world we believe in – the world we desire. We will create a world that is in keeping with our true self – the Self we brought back with us. We are free to be ourselves and offer our gifts to others.

 Archetypes associated with this stage include the Ruler (teaches how to take command over our Queen/Kingdom to create a beautiful world), the Magician (able to heal and transform ourselves and others so the queen/kingdom can be continually renewed), the Sage (teaches what the Truth really is; sets us free from attachment and petty desires) and the Fool (teaches us to live joyously in the moment without worrying about the future). These final attainments are the reward for our journey.

There is not only one journey taken in our lifetime.  Life is an ever-changing event that needs continual attention, destruction and renewal. “Out with the old, In with the new.”   As we evolve, we embark upon new Journeys in order to keep our world from becoming stagnant.  Each time we embark upon our personal Hero’s Journey, we bring more life experience, knowledge, skills and soul growth to the adventure.  This, in turn, assists us to bring back richer treasures to aid with our own health and healing as well as those whom we share our world.

 When you feel those stirrings in your heart, mind and soul, maybe it is your True Self trying to get your attention.  Are you listening?  After all, it is for your Highest Good.

The coming of year’s end holds special meaning for many. Besides the obvious religious observances at this time – and there are many – there are also pagan and shamanic rituals highlighting Winter Solstice, the start of a New Year and many significant birthdays. Of all the year, this may be the best time we have to honour everyone and every way that the Mystery of Life, Death and Rebirth is celebrated.

Spiritual traditions from around the world may, at first glance, seem to contradict each other. Although their understandings and traditions may seem conflictual, they actually have a lot in common. These spiritual traditions can be divided into three general categories:

• Polytheistic – belief in many gods and goddess
• Monotheistic – belief in one god
• Monist – belief in an impersonal Oneness

In polytheistic traditions, they teach that there is ultimately one God – essentially All is One. This God embraces everything and cannot be identified with any particular qualities or characteristics.  This one God can seem abstract and unapproachable. Native Americans call this supreme unity Great Spirit or Great Mystery.  Hindus know it as Brahman. Ancient Pagans knew it as The One or The Good. These traditions worship the one God via a host of lesser gods, goddesses, deities and spirits.

In monotheistic traditions, the belief is in a transcendental unity beyond the idea of a personal God; it is sometimes called the Godhead. A monotheistic religion generally follows the teachings of a prophet to connect with this one God or Godhead. All monotheistic traditions have intermediaries to help them with finding and securing their connection to the one God. Worship of this one God occurs by way of angels, beings, saints and prophets

In monist traditions, the belief is in an impersonal Oneness. The various gods and goddesses are faces of the faceless impersonal Oneness.  These are personas with recognizably human characteristics that the impersonal Oneness adopts so that we can have a personal relationship with it.  Monist traditions also recognize a whole host of celestial Buddhas and nature spirits to help us experience a relationship with the impersonal Oneness.

What does this all mean?  According to Timothy Freke, author of Spiritual Traditions: Essential Teachings to Transform Your Life, it means this:

“Basically, the different spiritual traditions of the world are unique expressions of common themes. They are different rivers running to one sea of Truth.  Each tradition has its own way of seeing reality, its own concepts, its cultural biases, its particular history and its own saints and sages.  Each tradition, therefore, has something valuable to offer us in our exploration of the mysteries of life and death.

Yet all enlightened masters of all traditions teach that the ultimate Truth is beyond the scope of words ever to express.  All spiritual philosophies are only gestures toward the inexpressible. As such, they are all partially valid and all ultimately inadequate.”

Let us end with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi:

” Religions are different roads converging on the same point.  What does it matter that we take different roads so long as we reach the same goal? “

May this Holiday Season provide you opportunities to enjoy the blessings and celebrations of the world’s spiritual traditions right in your communities.  We are more alike than we are different!

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Following on the heels of our latest seminar on Chakra Energy Basics, I decided to expand a bit on some of the helpful tools one can use when working with chakras.  To review:  a chakra is an energy vortex occurring outside the body and which influences the functioning of mind~body~spirit connections in certain areas of our body.  Ancient texts refer to seven Main Chakras occurring at the front of the body, each with its balanced and imbalanced characteristics. These energy centers respond to energetic phenomena  such as colour, sound, aroma, emotions and thoughts.  Each chakra responds to positive affirmations ie. positive self-talk, used with proper intention to help create positive healing.

Here are some affirmations that can be used for personal health and healing, courtesy of Anodea Judith and her book, Eastern Body ~ Western Mind.

Chakra One:  Root Chakra   (pg.52-53)

• It is safe for me to be here.
• The earth supports me and meets my needs.
• I love my body and trust its wisdom.
• I am immersed in abundance.
• I am here and I am real.

Chakra Two:  Sacral Chakra  (pg.106-107)

• I deserve pleasure in my life.
• I absorb information from my feelings.
• I embrace and celebrate my sexuality.
• My sexuality is sacred.
• I move easily and effortlessly.
• Life is pleasurable.

Chakra Three:  Solar Plexus Chakra  (pg.170-171)

• I honour the power within me.
• I accomplish tasks easily and effortlessly.
• The fire within me burns through all blocks and fears.
• I can do whatever I will to do.

Chakra Four:  Heart Chakra  (pg.228-229)

• I am worthy of love.
• I am loving to myself and others.
• There is an infinite supply of love.
• I live in balance with others.

Chakra Five:  Throat Chakra  (pg.298-299)

• I hear and speak the truth.
• I express myself with clear intent.
• Creativity flows in and through me.
• My voice is necessary.

Chakra Six:  Brow (Third Eye) Chakra  (pg.352-353)

• I see all things in clarity.
• I am open to the wisdom within.
• I can manifest my vision.

Chakra Seven:  Crown Chakra  (pg.406-407)

• Divinity resides within.
• I am open to new ideas.
• Information I need comes to me.
• The world is my teacher.
• I am guided by a higher power.
• I am guided by inner wisdom.

The more often you use positive affirmations, the easier they become.  And as you come to truly believe these messages, you have an opportunity to redo the unconscious imprinting of ideas and feelings that no longer serve your highest good.  To free yourself from “old programming” gives you the opportunity to really be who you were meant to be.  In some books, they call this “aligning with your true self and purpose”.  And isn’t that what life is supposed to be about?

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