Image courtesy of Ningren
Without darkness, light would have no definition. Without evil, good would never be challenged to expand. Without definition and challenge, there would be no growth. Without growth, our spirits would not evolve.
Many indigenous peoples say the Earth is a schoolhouse and we incarnate here in order to learn. This makes sense only if we view the spirit as separate from the corporeal. If we do, then advancing to higher consciousness and an elevated spiritual plane holds great promise for human transcendence.
The Earth is a bipolar planet. Since all matter converts to energy, we can infer that our lessons will be of a bipolar nature. Darkness and evil are not, in and of themselves, our enemies. When we set up something as the enemy, we constrict and lose all prospect of growth. When we see adversity as our ally, our growth potential expands and accelerates.
I recently reviewed The Little Soul and the Sun by Neale Donald Walsch. You can read my review HERE.
The message in this book is that our spirits pledge with one another to learn specific lessons when we incarnate, and each of us plays a role specific to any person or persons with whom we have contracted. Thus, if I pledge to help another soul learn joy, I might be the implement of sorrow. Likewise: prejudice → tolerance; cruelty → compassion; animosity → forgiveness; fear → love.
This places adversity in a very different light, inclusive of the importance of endeavoring to change a bad situation. Growth lies in rising to the challenges we pledged to meet when making our contracts.
Viewing life in this way is empowering. If we made a contract that we later discover no longer serves, then it is within our power to change it. However, we might not readily see the means by which to do so. I have encountered this many times in my life and still struggle with it in some areas.
My spiritual teacher has often told me that I have the power to manifest what I want within a split second. When I sit in relative consciousness, this concept boggles my mind. When I move into absolute awareness, I understand and see the vast potential of existence.
Rumi speaks eloquently on this subject . . .
The Guest House
~Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
If truth holds that we contract with each other before we incarnate, then everyone we now meet is a guest in our lives. We might not like the gifts they come bearing, but they are gifts nonetheless – seeds to help us grow.
I see the Winter holidays as the Season of Light. Christmas: Star of Bethlehem; tree lights. Chanukah: Star of David; menorah. Kwanzaa: kinara. Yule/Winter Solstice: candles; yule log. The list goes on.
Each of us chooses whether to light our path or walk in darkness; whether to see not only with our physical eyes, but also with our spirit eyes. We choose whether to open our hearts and allow light to enter, or close them and live in darkness.
During this Season of Light, I wish us all the warmth of an open heart and the myriad blessings it bestows. May we invite in each guest who knocks, honoring the pledge we made to them. And may we walk in beauty, love, and harmony with all living things.
Until the next time, my friends… Namaste ❤
© Tina Frisco 2017
Tina Frisco
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Thank you Tina for an inspiring post as always. I agree entirely. Unfortunately it is usually only when we look back at our lives and review the times of dark that we appreciated the lessons we learnt from it. And the concept of The Guest House by Rumi.. is a wonderful way to illustrate not only the existence of the dual nature ot all things but that like guests they come and go.. ♥
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Welcome, Sally. We can learn to appreciate the dark times as they occur by teaching ourselves to remain aware of all possibilities for its presence. In doing so, consciousness relaxes and expands. Releasing constriction in body, mind, and emotion facilitates absolute awareness. So glad you appreciate Rumi’s enlightened poem ❤
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Tina Frisco is the guest of The Story Reading Ape this morning and as always her posts are inspiring and enlightening.. Light and Dark, Good and Evil and those that bring both into our lives… bearing gifts.. head over to find out more…
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Many thanks for sharing, Sally – Hugs XXX
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Another lovely post from Tina.. xxxx
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Thanks so much for sharing, Sally ❤
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Lovely post Tina.. ♥♥
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This poem is fabulous, Tina, and makes your point so well. Wishing you and yours a wonderful festive season.
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Thank you, Robbie. Happy Holidays to you and all your loved ones ❤
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Namaste Tina, Thanks Chris.
Hugs
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Namaste, dear David ❤
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ONLY fantastic! ♥
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Billy Ray! So few words; such a BIG impact ❤
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so here I am looking for adjectives describe the impact of your post and what comes to the fore? “Enlightening”. “Illuminating”. I just don’t seem able to get away from words about light. thanks, Tina. It’s a very thought-provoking post.
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What a lovely comment, Cynthia. As I read it, the page glistened ❤
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So many lights! I am so blessed for having read this, at this very moment! Thanks, Tina, for always knowing exactly what to say. ❤
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Aw Annette, you touch my heart! I am so blessed to have you as my friend ❤
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Well said and conversely without light darkness would have no definition.
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Thank you, Chris. You make a good point. Light is seldom seen as threatening, though. Darkness as an entity tends to be feared; yet without it, light would not be a wonder ❤
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A great post. ❤
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Thank you, Alethea ❤
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Thank you, my generous friend, for another year of guest posts on your fabulous blog. May your holidays be blessed, and may they be filled with all the love your heart can hold. Hugs ❤❤❤
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Same to you, Tina ❤
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