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Dec 2007 / Jan 2008
Eurythmy: Meditation in Movement by RUTH TSCHANNEN by Mary G. Enig, PhD & Regular Columns: Horoscopes for December and January by Laura with Judy LeBeau Croft's Healthy Living Column by Croft Woodruff Inspirations - Magic Doorways by Devrah Laval Marketing for Healing Professionals by Juliet Austin, MA, Marketing Coach Advertorials: Struggling with a Serious Illness? Generosity and Healing at One Location
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Inspirations – Magic Doorways: MYSTIC LOVEby Devrah Laval
At this time of year our thoughts turn to a higher love, as we celebrate the life of Jesus Christ, one of the great mystics. To most of us, “mystic” implies something otherworldly, unattainable, beyond the reach of the average person. But what is mysticism? Noted philosopher and theologian, Evelyn Underhill, defines it as “the science of ultimates, the science of union with the Absolute, and nothing else…the mystic is the person who attains to this union, not the person who talks about it.” Ms. Underhill alludes to a common theme in mysticism, Oneness with all of Reality. In a sense we are all aspiring mystics because, consciously or unconsciously, we are all in pursuit of a deeper purpose and meaning in this existence. Christian mystic, Teilhard de Chardin expresses this eloquently: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” The great mystics and saints from every religion are all here to remind us that we are spiritual beings, not simply body-mind organisms, and that Love is the key to Who We Really Are. Why is this message so difficult for us to live by? What stops us from thinking, living, and loving like mystics? Most spiritual teachers say that our unquestioning faith and belief in outer appearances traps us and prevents us from abiding in our natural Divine state. The world of appearances reflects to us only learned beliefs, which are based on the limitations of time, culture and relationships. However, our mystic self sees the world as a limitless expression of boundless Love. Such a perception is often misunderstood and might even be a threat to those who wish to maintain their illusion of separateness. The mystic falls in love with the formless Reality that emanates a Love far greater than anything that we can experience in human relationships. Mystics love for Love’s own sake, not for personal gain. In response to her mother’s wish for her to marry a mortal man, Akhamahadevi, an Indian saint and poet, wrote, “I have fallen in love, oh mother, with the Beautiful One who knows no birth and knows no fear.” Akhamahadevi transcended the illusion of surface appearances and discovered the ecstasy of Divine Love. How can we take a step closer to this Divine Love that masters like Jesus and Buddha tell us is our birthright? How can we challenge our attraction to outer appearances and return home to our true nature? Where do we start? |
When we remember that we are spiritual beings, that all of us are Divine beings of absolute Love, we can acknowledge this truth in each other. A teacher I had many years ago, Yogeshwar Muni, said that our greatest suffering comes from not being seen as divine beings, whether we are aware of this consciously or not. Since we all come from the same Source and we are all ultimately returning to that same Source, when we meet another on this journey of life, the greatest gift that we can give is to see him or her as Divine. To dissolve the illusion of appearances and to reclaim our mystic self, an exercise that we can practise, not just during this special holiday but on a daily basis, is to silently greet everyone that we meet, regardless of who they are, with the words, “Thank you, God, for coming to me in this form.” In this way, we can live what all of the great religions are trying to teach us. Think of how many family feuds could be curtailed and how many wars could be averted by this simple shift in perception. Think of how the world would change if we saw our differences in appearance, ideas and behaviour as expressions of the Divine Love and Oneness that we all are. When we see through the eyes of a mystic, we go beyond our limited human experience and come into contact with our true nature – Love. Transcending Outer Appearances Devrah Laval is the author of The Magic Doorway into the Divine. Please address any comments or questions to: devrahlaval@telus.net or visit www.themagicdoorway.com
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