Pilgrimage - An Unfinished Opus

'We only have to look around us to see how complexity and psychictemperature are still rising: and rising no longer on the scale of the individual but now on that of the planet. This indication is so familiar to us that we cannot but recognize the objective, experiential, reality of a transformation of the planet as a whole'. We are heading through a period in history where we can no longer dismiss the wisdom of ancient peoples. Being that - the cosmic concept where intelligence is not just a function of humans on earth but an intrinsic part of energy space and time itself. Every religion comes to the same concept in the end - there is a hierarchy of sorts along with one creator. These beliefs, which I share, cause me to believe there is one full consciousness, so therefor there is only one identity. Singularity - the concept of oneness. The tricky part is that everything we see around us is part of a dream leading us to think that when we are looking at others we are looking at someone else. But really, as we are all part of the same consciousness - we are just looking at ourselves. Yep, that's right folks. No pointing fingers or it's the other guys fault or how can she do that or boy, that so and so is really stupid.....in other words, all we are ever seeing in each and every face, is the face of God. A perfect human being made in God's image. This is my mantra when I begin to slip, finger getting ready to point - and then begin with an inner voice, "I can't be angry, I can't pass judgment, I am looking at the face of God. The journey, pilgrimage, if you will, has not been an easy one for me. I did not come into this humaneness, adjust my halo, fluff my wings and begin loving everyone....Life just always seemed hard. Many reasons for that. Being an overly sensitive kid, mother on welfare and food stamps while my father ran around, no proper clothes to wear in a community where that was not the case for others. Then choosing the music business to go into at a time few women were singing in bands, developing a tough skin, while being forced to make decisions that did not make me the most popular girl in the neighborhood. More than half of my life, I was incredibly angry. As I look around the world, so many of "us" are still angry. The world moving through its journey, is now dying it's angry death of what it has been. I am standing on a planet watching a rebirth, pulling us all in since we are included in the active elements of the universe. But maybe "journey" doesn't really explain it as the word seems to have a beginning and an end. So Pilgrimage may be more fitting. "Pilgrimage", because it is a journey of the spirit frequently beginning long before the journey commences and continuing long after the destination has been reached. Believing that the earth/ universe/mankind, all part of a singular concept, we can look at the earth's pilgrimage, as if it applies to an individual (or the other way around?). How does a pilgrimage begin? Could be an invitation from a friend, a suggestion by a stranger, an unexpected prompting from within one's mind and heart can set a pilgrimage in motion. Haven't many of us, in our hearts and mind yearned for a more peaceful world? Because a pilgrimage is a spiritual journey, it makes the decision to go on a pilgrimage not come quickly or easily. Don't we still feel the pull of the negative even though it can only lead to our demise? Isn't there a tug of war within our own collective consciousness, playing out on a world stage? To displace oneself, that is, to leave the familiar and comfortable place and travel along an unknown and different path may require a season of prayer, the support of a praying community, and a process of discernment before the inner "yes" is freely and intentionally uttered. I am beginning to hear a collective yes, each day more affirmative revealing that awareness of the pilgrimage has already begun. "The words community and solitary pilgrims may seem like they do not belong together in the same sentence. Yet, throughout the experience of pilgrimage the need for pilgrims to be alone and the need for them to be also in community complement and support one another. Pilgrims come together often with an innate contemplative attitude, a stance requiring periods of inner solitude and outer spaciousness so the spirit can be cared for by silence. Corresponding, when pilgrims come together and form a pilgrim community, the spirit of each pilgrim speaks to the spirit of the other, harmonizing and balancing the movements of each person's involvement in the divine cosmic dance of transformation". What is the spirit in spiritual for the earth's and our pilgrimage? Maybe the answer begins with a premise-that we are not human beings seeking somehow to do something to become spiritual, but rather we are spiritual beings who long to become fully human. If that premise is accepted, then spirit is an element of being human, being alive and experiencing the emotional qualities of spirit, inner promptings that reflect certain conditions of the mind, heart and body. As humans, if we can remember that we are truly pilgrims often encountering the shared experiences of a deeper life-giving spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and compassion, which affect the mind, the heart, and the body. Then we can realize this is the only way to combat intolerance, rebellion, hatred, violence, or bigotry. If our collective spirit can embrace that a pilgrimage is not always what it seems to be, it is not a vacation, it is uncomfortable, including moments of despair, doubt and conflict, then we can look around and understand what is happening providing more clarity to what is playing out. Maybe while we percolate, grow and morph, we can bring intentional prayer, meditation, silence, shared reflection and a peace driven vision to the petri dish. We can keep at the forefront of our minds, that love, compassion, peace and knowing are the connection of the human heart to our higher self. And then maybe we can connect, protect and realize what is at stake. One of our greatest gifts....The Great Mother, Earth.