FEBRUARY I LIGHT |
LIGHT COMMENTARY:
We were built with many similarities to Lighthouses. We have an external structure (the heart) that is
connected to an Energy Source (our Higher Power), which endows us with the ability to radiate Light
(the essence of Love). This Internal Light has many different names: “The Divine Spark,” “The Soul,”
“The Awakened Heart,” or “Higher Consciousness;” it doesn’t matter what we call it, because it is the
Love which indwells all living things.
It is a monumental task to try to describe Light. However, one knows it when they see it. It’s the
embodiment of all human virtues: Kindness, Healing, Compassion, and Generosity are just some of the
components of Light. Light is our true nature, or as Pema Chodron calls it our “Original Goodness.”
Nevertheless, as we look at the state of the world, we begin to wonder where this innate “goodness”
has gone.
One can only speculate on the cause of humanity’s darkness, but it seems to be a multigenerational
problem spanning millennia. After we are born and we begin our journey through life, encountering
those who cultivate our Light and/or people and situations which seem set on extinguishing it. We learn
to reflect or deflect Light because of those experiences.
We enlist all manner of coping mechanisms in the unconscious hope of protecting our hearts. But
instead of helping us we actually become dysfunctional. We are like light bulbs almost ready to burn
out, surging and dimming. Our protective measures block the flow of our Love. Let me stop here and
say that no one can ever be separated from their Light. Even if it is buried under 1,000 fathoms of
watery tears, it is always flickering, waiting for us to draw upon and let it shine again. Nevertheless,
because the essence of healing is Love, we cannot heal from our soul wounds without the flow of Light.
The key to letting our Light shine again is to start peeling painful layers away, by facing our
dysfunctions and pain head on with honesty and compassion. We can actually unlearn our destructive
behaviors, through mindfulness, meditation, prayer and practice, which will return to our Lighthouse
state once again. And since a Lighthouse’s sole purpose is to bring others to safe harbors, as we start
to heal, the healing of the world begins.
We were built with many similarities to Lighthouses. We have an external structure (the heart) that is
connected to an Energy Source (our Higher Power), which endows us with the ability to radiate Light
(the essence of Love). This Internal Light has many different names: “The Divine Spark,” “The Soul,”
“The Awakened Heart,” or “Higher Consciousness;” it doesn’t matter what we call it, because it is the
Love which indwells all living things.
It is a monumental task to try to describe Light. However, one knows it when they see it. It’s the
embodiment of all human virtues: Kindness, Healing, Compassion, and Generosity are just some of the
components of Light. Light is our true nature, or as Pema Chodron calls it our “Original Goodness.”
Nevertheless, as we look at the state of the world, we begin to wonder where this innate “goodness”
has gone.
One can only speculate on the cause of humanity’s darkness, but it seems to be a multigenerational
problem spanning millennia. After we are born and we begin our journey through life, encountering
those who cultivate our Light and/or people and situations which seem set on extinguishing it. We learn
to reflect or deflect Light because of those experiences.
We enlist all manner of coping mechanisms in the unconscious hope of protecting our hearts. But
instead of helping us we actually become dysfunctional. We are like light bulbs almost ready to burn
out, surging and dimming. Our protective measures block the flow of our Love. Let me stop here and
say that no one can ever be separated from their Light. Even if it is buried under 1,000 fathoms of
watery tears, it is always flickering, waiting for us to draw upon and let it shine again. Nevertheless,
because the essence of healing is Love, we cannot heal from our soul wounds without the flow of Light.
The key to letting our Light shine again is to start peeling painful layers away, by facing our
dysfunctions and pain head on with honesty and compassion. We can actually unlearn our destructive
behaviors, through mindfulness, meditation, prayer and practice, which will return to our Lighthouse
state once again. And since a Lighthouse’s sole purpose is to bring others to safe harbors, as we start
to heal, the healing of the world begins.
| BACK TO BEING PRESENT |
"Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all the others were making ships." ~Charles Simic~ |
REPEAT ASPIRATION EVERY DAY FOR 7 DAYS WEEK 1 ASPIRATION: Today with honesty and compassion, I aspire to look at the places in my life where I have blocked my Light, and I will start to poke holes in them, in order to let my light flow once again. SUPPORTS ~DAY 1~ ”Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us”. ~Marianne Williamson ~DAY 2~ “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” ~Carl Jung ~DAY 3~ “From within or from behind, a light shines through us upon things, and makes us aware that we are nothing, but the light is all.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson ~DAY 4~ “What is soul? It's like electricity - we don't really know what it is, but it's a force that can light a room.” ~Ray Charles ~DAY 5~ “We all walk in the dark and each of us must learn to turn on his or hers own light.” ~Earl Nightingale ~DAY 6~ “To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.” ~Mother Teresa ~DAY 7~ REST AND REVIEW Now, without judgment review your week. This week there were times I was able to face______, which was blocking the flow of my Light. Now breathe in how it felt to come to this realization. Then breathe out the wish for everyone to share in self wisdom in order to release their inner Light. Now, look at your short-falls. This week there were times when I was unable to look at the things that were blocking my Inner Light. Breathe in the emotion that stopped you from facing the truth, and breathe out the wish: May all those who feel ______ have the compassion to look at themselves, fearlessly, recognizing that Light will bring into their lives. |
REPEAT ASPIRATION EVERY DAY FOR 7 DAYS WEEK 2 ASPIRATION: Today, I aspire to glow. I will observe how my Light impacts the world around me, and see how it feels to return to my intended state of being. SUPPORTS ~DAY 1~ “We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own.” ~Ben Sweetland ~DAY 2~ “Let the light that is within me illuminate humanity.” ~Mr. Prophet ~DAY 3~ “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” ~Jesus ~DAY 4~ “There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” ~Edith Wharton ~DAY 5~ “When you possess light within, you see it externally.” ~Anaïs Nin ~DAY 6~ “There is not enough darkness in the world to snuff out the light of even one small candle” ~Marian Wright Edelman ~DAY 7~ REST AND REVIEW Now, without judgment review your week. This week there were times I was able to let my Light flow around me and feel its positive effects. Now breathe in how it felt to be a Light. Then breathe out the wish for everyone to share to be able to share their Light with each other. Now, look at your short-falls. This week I there were times things that arose in my day, which blocked my ability to shed my Light. Breathe in the pain of feeling blocked, breathe out the wish: May all those who feel blocked from shedding their Light be spared from the stifling of their Light. Feel free to use your own words in this practice. |
| Ending Prayer: Light before me, light behind me, Light to the right of me, light to the left of me Light above me, light beneath me. O God, increase my light and give me the greatest light of all of thy mercy grant me light; O thou most merciful. (Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali: The Beginning of Guidance) |
| Now please enjoy the video on "Lighthouse Wisdom" provided for you enjoyment by Humanity Healing |
| "BE IN THE LIGHT" |