Journey to Stillpoint (7/26/08)

Every journey begins with one step in the chosen direction; it doesn't matter if it is the "right" one or the "wrong" one. It only matters that you begin, and, begin it in earnest. There should be no trepidation, no second thought as to its validity, purpose or meaning in terms of the rest of your life, after all, there are no wrong decisions, no wrong roads; they just are signposts along your journey to the next place. And, when you arrive at that place, you will look back over that journey and understand why you made the trip.

Everything, every thought, every feeling, every love lost or found, every person you meet along the way, has its purpose. You may not realize it at that time; perhaps you may not realize it in the short-term. Events and people may seem cruel and unkind. When you're licking your wounds and wallowing in self-pity, it's difficult to comprehend that there was any purpose to your pain. But there is. There is always purpose; life is not cruel, it's our interpretation of life's events that seem to be so.

So, the next step is to be still. When you are still, there is no past, no future, only the neverending now. It is in this now that we heal...and grow. This is the stillpoint; it is where all possibilities are present and there is no reason that you cannot fulfill any one of them. No reason. Simply, the truth of your beingness and the universe's abundant willingness to give to you anything, everything that you could ever wish for. It is our ‘job', should we choose to accept it, to be willing to accept this gift, pick it up and run with it. We often find that the burden of choosing to take up the task...this gift...is too great.

At stillpoint, the journey is ‘behind' you, or in front of you, but there is no connection to the path; you are simply resting, still, catching your breath, preparing yourself for what may lie ahead, but it is also a crossroad. Anything is possible and there will be more choices to be made before starting out on a new path.

Even when we think that we're not in control of our destiny, we are. We all have choices; some appear harder than others to make, that's all. Pain is a choice too. If you think otherwise, read about the yogis; they use their mind to ‘turn off' pain. So, if pain is controllable, that means that it is a matter of personal choice whether...or not...we experience it. At the stillpoint, we have the perfect opportunity to make that choice again, or for the first time, because it is always possible to start again and choose differently.

Once you return to the now, that stillpoint at the intersection of your journey through life in the physical, you have the opportunity, if not the obligation, to forgive. Begin by forgiving yourself. From that point, all can be forgiven, knowing that all was important on the journey. Then, be grateful; to yourself, to all the others, all the things that at the time seemed to be pulling you or pushing you, in a direction you thought was not your choice. This is the illusion; that we have no choice. We always have choices; it just may not appear that we do...or that we do not like the ones that are being offered to us.

Do not be concerned about the past journey; just learn what you can about how it made you feel. This feeling is the essence of what's important. If it made you feel regret, ask yourself why, what was the purpose of this regret, how does it serve you? The same for pain, confusion, guilt, anger, hostility or any other ‘negative' emotion or feeling. The purpose of these ‘negative' emotions are to ‘tell' us...a signpost...that this is something we may not wish to re-experience on the next ‘leg' of our journey. If you fail to recognize these insights...as the saying goes...you're ‘doomed' (or destined), to repeat them. Again and again and again....this lifetime or the next...or the next. This is what is meant by karma; it's not that it's bad...for there is not bad experience, just simply AN experience.

The purpose is in the recognition...the message...if you have but eyes to see it, ears to hear it. It is that simple, unless you fail to recognize the message. Then, dutifully, the Universe will provide you with yet another opportunity to see and hear it...again and again and again. How many times have we chosen to take the same, or similar, journeys? How many lifetimes will it take before you stop running from the lesson which you have been trying to experience for yourself? It doesn't really matter, this is not a blame-game. The Universe is not out to punish you for not recognizing these lessons; it just wants to make sure that you have the opportunity before going on to the next one...you might say, the next level. This is the ascension process. You cannot ascend to the next level without recognizing the purpose of these experiences. It simply is not possible. The Universe is here to support us in this journey...with love and understanding. Always.