While meditating on Urban Monk, and especially the most recent chapter of “Out of Winkler”, I was vividly reminded of an incident that occurred during that period of my life. I decided to add it to Chapter 3. If you have been following my postings, and have already read the chapter on “Intentional Community”, you may want to go back and read the story I posted there this morning. It is very dramatic, and aids in understanding my early spiritual development.

Nearly two months ago I posted some thoughts, early in the life of this website blog. I called it, “Head or heart?” As I stated there, I continue to be a work-in-progress! I am still mulling all this over.

Our left brain deals with the logical, analytical, thought processes, figuring things out. The right brain deals more with intuition, creativity, sensing, mysticism, just knowing. As I walk my spiritual path, more and more I am depending on right brain sensing.

Some of my fellow travellers do not trust this right brain way of being. They encourage me to remain in line with the creeds and with the ancient writings. “How will you know if you wander off the path?” they wonder. What keeps me on the straight-and-narrow? How do I determine right from wrong? What is my standard, my criteria? This is very much left brain thinking.

More and more I am coming to see that when faith and religion become a matter of creeds and theology, God is silenced. By adhering to beliefs we silence God. We no longer need to hear God, to sense him, to intuit him. We have the scriptures and the creeds to inform our faith; we can figure him out, analyze the scriptures and know God this way. And our logical, linear way of thinking once again silences God’s true voice speaking to our inner being. We need to have both sides of the brain working in order to encounter God.

In the preface to a book I just began reading today, the author expresses the development of religion and faith, both through history, and in individual lives.

At different periods in history, spiritual search has been expressed in philosophies, psychologies, arts, and above all in religions; by these ways seekers have been called and helped in sustaining and deepening their quest. With time wayfarers and pilgrims are in general replaced by believers and officials prizing the security of their positions. Rather than the path leading to openness and vulnerability to truth, we find too many frozen statements and doctrines claiming to provide the answers. (“Whispers from the Other Shore”, Ravi Ravindra, p. ix)

Once again I thank the Divine for sending me wisdom I need right at this moment! I was mulling these thoughts over last evening, just beginning to think I should journal this on Urban Monk, when “Whispers…” arrived in the mail and was left on the table by my wife! The Universe truly works wonders in our lives. The Source of all wisdom synchronizes events in our existence to bring about teaching, learning and growth.

I suspect there will be a fuller review of this little gem of a book in the future. But for now, I hear Spirit telling me I’m on the right path. I am learning to trust my inner leading, my intuition, as much as I trust my mind. Both halves of the brain are given us by the Creator. Both are necessary to a full life. Neither are to be ignored in favour of the other. Right brain, left brain? Whole brain, no brain? Which is it to be?!!! Don’t you just love this journey?

A spiritual director once said to me, “Dennis, rest into God.” Relax. God is in charge. You can rest in that knowledge. “Come to me all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11.28). And he continues, “. . . you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (vs 29,30).

Granted, there is a sense of restlessness when living the life of Spirit. The Spirit blows where it will, etc. But there is also the sense of rest and relaxation. Our human tendency is to get all wrapped up in intensity. Everything is so important, we have to do it now!

But there really is no true urgency. Because the Divine is in charge. And his burden is light. The task he has given us is easy. We need only learn from him. And rest in him. And as we rest, as we empty our minds of mundanity, we can hear his voice. And his voice is true; it is light. Blessed are they who hear my voice and respond. Let him who has ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says.

“Rest into God!”

There is much fear in our society. Fear is fostered, nurtured by the powers-that-be as a means of control. The Bush/Cheney administration in the USA consciously, deliberately introduced elements of fear into society. In fact, fear has been used to keep populaces docile for decades, if not centuries.

“The temptation is to listen and absorb the fear messages that you are constantly bombarded with — by organizations, institutions, politicians, and associations —  by all forms of human organizations. Yes, even churches — or we might say, especially churches, for they indeed preach the message of fear. This is highly destructive from the perspective of the spiritual realm. It is highly dysfunctional. It serves to trap humanity in a vicious cycle of trying to fulfill the expectations of others or organizations and not to fulfill your own soul based intentions.”

This message was received recently by a medium I know. It came from advanced Light-Beings in the heavenly realm. When I read the part about churches I wanted to become defensive. But as I sat back and contemplated what was being said, I realized that there is truth contained in these words. Indeed, insofar as this message is genuine, there cannot be anything but truth in these words.

I had to admit that the Church has been complicit in spreading and maintaining fear in society. I have been part of organized religion all my life, including leadership positions. While I have been fortunate in having been led to very positive-minded churches for the most part, I know enough about Church as a whole that I must admit that the Church has often been guilty of spreading fear. Fear of “going to hell”, fear of losing salvation, fear of displeasing God, fear of being fooled by the devil, being led astray, and on and on and on.

In the spiritual realm, there is no cause for fear. One only has to trust the leadership that Spirit gives, and you need not fear. Walk boldly the path laid out for you; do not live in fear.

Discussed with my son the other day patterns passed on from parents to child. This got my wife and me thinking about what we had learned from our parents. One example: both of us have much more education than either set of parents. Our mothers finished high school; our fathers did not. Both of us have graduate degrees. We were able to recognize that education was valued in our extended families of origin.

Coming from conservative, traditional families, both of us have greatly expanded our horizons. This not only in education; in many areas of life we have been driven to explore the boundaries of orthodoxy.

So much of my life I have pushed against the accepted. Often misunderstood, I have swum upstream, against the flow of those around me. While exciting to live this way, it tends to be a lonely existence!

But I am learning to accept my cross-current path. Spirit is teaching me these days that our lives have been planned (see my book review on Your Soul’s Plan). I therefore have to assume that the way my life is unfolding is all according to previous decisions. Nothing is an accident. I am also being taught that each one of us is infinitely cared for, watched after, assisted, loved and supported along the way, no matter how rocky the trail.

What tremendous peace results when I live with that awareness. With growing confidence I can step out and walk the path with boldness, however halting my steps may be.

The image of “monk” carries with it a sense of solitude. I therefore responded positively when offered the gift of this website name. It resonated with me. It felt right. It helps define who I am. Quiet, alone, slightly mystical, carrying out my duties, submitting to my higher power, not materialistic, seeking knowledge and wisdom. (And I like to sing!!)

So, I am who I am because this is who I chose to be before I was born. This life I chose to live is a gift to me. And I am a gift to the world and to the universe. A gift being opened slowly, one layer at a time.

With a sense of disbelief, dismay and horror (and a generous dose of humour), I  watch the U.S. Republican primary race. The attacks on women have been unbelievable. These battles (for women’s rights) were fought and won so long ago. What is happening? Why is there such diabolical hatred being spewed forth against women? Again?

Yesterday I was reminded of a book I had read a year or so ago. Unplugging the Patriarchy, by Lucia René, outlines in allegorical style the story of several women whose task in this life has been a battle on the spiritual plane against some of the powers that rule this world. Their primary target is patriarchy.

These heavenly agents, in human form, battle to undo the powerful hold that patriarchy and other ruling authorities have on global society. In Lord of the Rings language, they destroy the rings of power!

The human race has lived under patriarchy for about five millennia. Patriarchy was set up, at a spiritual level, to aid our development as a people on this planet. It had a useful purpose. But patriarchy has run its course; it is no longer helpful to us. And the spirit realms have sent operatives to fight it, and enable a shift to a more healthy, holistic society.

And what we are seeing today is the fight back of these powers; they will not easily relinquish their strongholds. The news of the day shows us the death throes of the rulers.

This spring’s Republican attack on women is patriarchy’s mighty last fight. The financial crisis of 2008 was the beginning of the end for some of the money rulers. At least I hope this is the case!

The warfare is not yet over; more chaos will ensue. But as we live through these uncertain times, each of us is able to assist the battle as we open ourselves to the divine, as we raise our spiritual consciousness, as we become aware of the reality of the ruling powers which want to keep us enslaved.