Darkness Towards Light

A story of the passage from without to within, these words have been and continue to be... from what seem utter loss to an unforeseen gain of Heart and Light... from pain and woe, in darkness whole, to then immersed in nimbus grey of nothingness, a void complete; by Grace of God and Prayers of Love, I then perceived, edges of enlightenment transcend the threshold of my Mind and Heart... aware I was in shock and yet relief, of God’s salvation and his friendship. I now hold this within my heart, a brighter truth of Love that is and Love I will become...

The Cathar Prophecy of 1244 AD

The last of the Cathars was burnt by the Inquisition of the Roman Catholic Church at Montsegur, Languedoc, France in 1244, but they left this prophecy; that the Church of Love would be proclaimed in 1996.
Click here for a brief and interesting history of the Cathars.

It has no fabric - only understanding.

It has no membership - save those who know they belong.

It has no rivals - because it is non-competitive.

It has no ambition, because it only seeks to serve.

It knows of no boundaries for nationalisms are unloving.

It is not of itself because it seeks to enrich all groups and religions.

It acknowledges all great teachers of all the ages who have shown the truth of Love.


Those who participate, practice the Truth of Love in all their daily being.

There is no walk of life or nationality that is a barrier.


Those who are, know. It seeks not to teach but to be, and by being, enrich.

It recognizes the collectivity of all humanity and that we are all one with the One.

It recognizes that the way we are may be the way of those around us because we are that way.


It recognizes the whole planet as a Being, of which we are a part.

It recognizes that the time has come for the supreme transmutation, the ultimate alchemical act, the conscious change of the ego into a voluntary return to the whole.

It does not proclaim itself with a loud voice but in the subtle realms of loving.

It salutes all those in the past who have blazoned the path but paid the price.

It admits of no hierarchy or structure, for no one is greater than another.

Its members shall know each other by their deeds and being and their eyes and by no other outward sign, save the fraternal embrace.

Each one will dedicate his or her life to the silent loving of their neighbor and environment and the planet, whilst carrying out their daily task, however exalted or humble.

It recognizes the supremacy of the great idea which may only be accomplished if the human race practices the supremacy of Love.

It has no rewards to offer, either here or in the hereafter, save that of the ineffable joy of being and loving.

Its members shall seek only to advance the cause of understanding, within whichever church, group or family they happen to be.

They shall do good by stealth and teach only by example.

They shall heal their neighbor, their community and our Planet.

They shall know no fear, and feel no shame and their witness shall prevail over all odds.


It has no secrets, no arcanum, no initiations save that of the true understanding of the power of love and that, if we want it to be so, the world will change but only if we change ourselves first.

All those who belong, belong; they belong to the Church of Love.


Thank you Jerry for sharing this with us.

Choctaw Legend

Do you know the legend of the Choctaw Indian youth's rite of Passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night, he is a MAN..

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.

It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.

He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone.

Even when we don't know it, the Great Spirit is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.

When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

If you liked this story, pass it on.

If not, you took off your blindfold before dawn.

Moral of the story:

Just because you can't see God doesn't mean He is not there.

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

The Rise from Shadow

Shadow and Enchantment lie upon the land. Sheer precipices... keen and heart piercing, slain by bliss and loss, a Joy so great though brief in time... and now a brooding silence upon my Land does lie... a Fleeting thing that brushed my Heart, yet marked in change forever is... I challenge the Fate that lies before... To Unclouded Heavens my Spirit calls, Radiant and Perilous though it may seem, a White Fire Flares within my Soul, It lights my way and gives me Strength... I suffer its touch... it Hurts me not... Rise I will and soar again above Sea and Sky beyond this world... drawn back to thee whence my love hales... I’ll not forget the songs of lament across star lit mires... Grief and Joy engraved in me and from my eyes, do shine... to better understand and better respect, the unpredictability of this life... Though in it all, Love is, and it does Guide... relentless in its ever touch... to show the skyway path that leads from dark to light... my Spirit, made of Imperishable Love, is free to be, beyond the taint and stings of shadows deep... beyond uncounted tears, rejoice I do... I am set free to heal the land... and the Heart does mend...

Hole vs. Wholeness

I heard this song on the drive to work today. For some reason, the following lyric struck me:

Keeping my eyes open
I cannot afford to sleep
Giving away promises
I know that I can't keep
Nothing fills the blackness
That has seeped into my chest
I need you in my blood
I am forsaking all the rest
Just to reach you

And I know this song. I know it is about the longing for someone you love so deeply that it hurts.

But for some reason, today it occurred to me that the "blackness" that is felt during those lonely times isn't for a fellow human. That hole we feel is what we think we're missing. We think we're missing something... God's love.

We just keep forgetting that its there.

The "hole" we perceive isn't real but our "wholeness" is.

Then on another level, we do need that fellow human to be an conduit of that love.

Hmmm... now I know why every love song sounds like it could be written by God's Son to his Father.

The Dragon

What chambers lie within my Heart yet to be discovered? How do I proceed... take the inner stair... shall not swerve from this trail that leads within... By the light of my Heart, guided I’ll be!

Abandon not this Quest of Light and Love shall ever be!

A Pale Fire... something in symmetry draws nigh...

My God the Dragon lies within in wait...

Strength... Armor thyself In Faith and Truth... Courage... Feed it not by Fear... Hold true to the appointed path, though perilous it be...

The Dragon’s gaze now holds me not, but I must look back unto thee...

Enchantment not can you draw now... untouched I am beyond Your hope... you hold me not in bondage false, held before by my Untrue Belief...

But false I now deem your charms to be... You Hold me not. Bemused I’m not by your nets of illusion and farce that flared to me... your pale fire
Now grows dim…

By Fire and Ice I am more... Forsaken not By God I am... you fade into the void you are... My Ego, Dragon was... By Light of Truth you shutter and Fade!

Yet from thee I gained insight... I thank you too.

Companions

From Dhammapada Sutras:

If you find an intelligent companion, a wise and well-behaved person going the same way as yourself, then go along with him, overcoming all dangers, pleased at heart and mindful.
~ 328

But if you do not find an intelligent companion, a wise and well-behaved person going the same way as yourself, then go on your way alone, like a king abandoning a conquered kingdom, or like a great elephant in the deep forest.
~329

It is better to travel alone. There is no companionship with a fool. Go on your way alone and commit no evil, without cares like a great elephant in the deep forest.
~ 330

Sling-backed red sandals

I lit fragrant cylinders of loss
And ran sorrow until it started to correct itself,
the drain sucked up the excess

I slipped out of my desire
And stared at the truth until I could write my name in it,
there was no permanent scar

I tried out the shame with my big toe
And then soaked in regret until my reasoning was wrinkled up,
even the bubbles were gone

I shaved the doubt from my legs
And rinsed my hope under the faucet until the misgivings ran clear,
the water went cold

I donned my gratitude
And picked the fear from my dress until joy found me there,
in sling-backed red sandals

One of many...

"Your world is pointing toward an insistence on conformity which is causing you enormous grief. It's what's at the heart of all of your religious battles, and religious battles are what are at the heart of all of your battles. In other words, all of your wars and global irritation with one another are over your determination to promote sameness. Your democracy insists that it's the only government that works. And every religion (it's interesting to note) proclaims that it is the only one that works."
~ Abraham-Hicks

I love this quote. This is a perfect example of the reason I chose the name of this blog as "A Path to One". Not "the" path but "a" path.

A Course in Miracles says it is one of many paths. Let us not think ours is the only one.

That would kind of defeat the purpose.

The Grace of a Woman

This was given to me during our A Course in Miracles study group last Sunday. My fellow student said that as she read it, she thought of me. I like it. I can relate to it. I thought I'd share it with you.

(P.S. I have no idea who wrote it.)

Comes the Dawn
After a while you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul.

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
and company doesn't mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises,
and you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open.
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,
and learn to built all your roads on today,
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even the sunshine
burns if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate
your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to
bring your flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
and you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn...
With every goodbye, you learn.

Introduction

Hello!

We are a group of A Course in Miracles students who meet every Sunday. I am the facilitator of the group, Tonya.

This blog was inspired out of the wonderful poetry, quotes and everyday inspirations that we share every Sunday in our meetings.

I hope that everyone in the group will contribute and make this a beautiful and inspiring corner of the Internet for all who visit.