Saturday, March 16, 2013
IN THE BETWEEN
In the Between is about a woman who dies and travels through the Bardo. The book opens with an explanation of that term: she is going from one life to the next. The word Bardo comes from the Tibetan Book of the Dead, loosely translated as: The In Between. According to that book, souls travel through it for 49 days, during which time they are encouraged to accept any one of numerous heavens being offered. Unless, as in this case, there is some karma left over from past lives.
But our soul, in the story, is not Buddhist, she is from the West. And being the kind of woman she has become through all the countless lives—she believes she has lived—she developed her own ideas about living and what happens after death.
Based on her ideas she re-lives some of her past lives to help with the evolution of her soul. But before any of that happens—right from the start—when she first arrives at the Bardo, she is surprised to discover something odd about her soul that is confusing. She learns there are two parts to her soul—the animal and the spiritual. The two soul aspects disagree about what is supposed to be accomplished while in the between and the book spells out those differences of opinion through lively dialogue.
After achieving some harmony, our soul agrees to re-live her past lives that took place in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Spain, Brussels, France, England, the U.S., and India. After each experience the two soul aspects review what happened—why she made choices causing karma that must be balanced in her future—and the two parts of our soul begin to grow together.
She learns everything is much more complicated than she ever thought, including all of her relationships, whether they seemed good or not so good. She also finds out how it is that thinking people develop their personal ideas about God, the universe, and spirit, but most importantly why souls are on planet earth—at all.
The book allows for all of us to ask ourselves: What if it is true? What if we don’t go to Heaven…or Hell when we die? What if karma does exist? What if we do reincarnate into another life to try to learn about our past mistakes and get to balance out misdeeds?
A CASE FROM REINCARNATION BY FAMOUS THINKERS
About 18 months ago the CBS Sunday show did a survey and discovered that 1 in 5 Americans believe in reincarnation and 1 in 10 believe they can remember a past life they lived? Check out what famous people like Jesus of Nazareth, Rumi, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Benjamin Franklin, Carl Gustav Jung, and others said. Certainly food for thought.
Jesus of Nazareth: “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” And the disciples answered: “Some say that thou art Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. And if you will receive it, this is Elijah who was destined to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Matthew 16:13-14; 11:11, 14-15
Hermes Trismegistus: The Soul passes from form to form; and the mansions of her pilgrimage are manifold. Thou puttest off the bodies as raiment; and as vesture doest thou fold them up. Thou are from old, O Soul of man, yea, thou art from everlasting.
Egyptian Hermetic Fragments
Rabbi Simeon Ben Jochai: All souls are subject to the trials of reincarnation. They know not how they are being at all times judged, both before coming into this world and when they leave it. They do not know how many transformations and mysterious trials they must undergo. The souls must re-enter the absolute substance whence they have emerged. But to accomplish this end they must develop all the perfections, the germ of which is planted in them; and if they have not fulfilled this condition during one life, they must commence another, a third, and so forth.
The Zohar or Kabalistic Book of Light
Rumi: There have been thousands of changes in form. Look always to the form in the present; for, if you think of the forms in the past, you will separate yourself from your true Self. These are all states of the permanent which you have seen by dying. Why then do you turn your face from death? Die happily and look forward to taking up a new and better form. Like the sun, only you set in the West can you rise again with brilliance in the East.
Mathnawi
Ralph Waldo Emerson: It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do no die, but only retire a little from sight and afterwards return again. Nothing is dead; men feign themselves dead, and endure mock funerals and mournful obituaries, and there they stand looking out of the window, sound and well, in some new strange disguise. Jesus in not dead; he is very well alive: nor John, nor Paul, nor Mahomet, nor Aristotle; at times we believe we have seen them all, and could easily tell the names under which they go.
“Nominalist and Realist”
Benjamin Franklin: Finding myself to exist in the world, I believe I shall in some shape or other always exist; and, with all the inconveniences human life is liable to, I shall not object to a new edition of mine, hoping, however, that the errata of the last may be corrected.
Letters
Thomas Huxley: In the doctrine of transmigration, whatever its origin, Brahmanical and Buddhist speculation found, ready to hand, the means of constructing a plausible vindication of the ways of the Cosmos to man. None but very hasty thinkers will reject it on the group of inherent absurdity. Like the doctrine of evolution itself, that of transmigration has its roots in the world of reality.
“Evolution and Ethics”
Carl Gustav Jung: My life as I lived it had often seems to me like a story that has no beginning and no end. I had the feeling that I was a historical fragment, an excerpt for which the preceding and succeeding test was missing. I encountered questions I was not yet able to answer; that I had to be born again because I had not fulfilled the task that was given to me. When I die, my deeds will follow along with me—that is how I imagine it. I will bring with me what I have done. In the meantime it is important to insure that I do not stand at the end with empty hands.
“Memories, Dreams, Reflections”
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
IT IS NOT THE WAR
It’s not a war. It’s just another battle. The same battle we fight over and over again. As long as we continue to go to the battle, we don’t focus on what needs to take place to end the real war.
Notice the deflections. Most of them are too ridiculous to think about. The latest attempt has worked. It’s called the War on Women. Enormous amounts of time have been spent not only moaning, but taking action that is necessary to maintain the “same old place”. Sure, it has to be done, but when will we learn that we must stop the endless battle that simply keeps us in that place?
Are hormone pills for a woman’s health, with a side effect of controlling birth? That’s the wrong question. Because when we continue to ask it, we don’t get the right answer, which is: it doesn’t matter. It’s no one’s business. As long as it’s the government’s business, there is no separation between church and state (someone’s religious beliefs and our nation’s laws).
Politically, we act like frightened children who expect to be rescued by someone. A Superman or Superwoman. They don’t exit, therefore, that does not work. The only thing that can work is removal of what we wish to be rescued from: The sociopaths in politics.
Obama was elected to be the nation’s political “savior”. All that did was continue the need to be saved and rescued. For every push there is an automatic push back. Karma: cause and effect.
Don’t kid yourself. We are not dealing with people who are interested in history. Stop thinking they will learn from it. We are dealing with sociopaths. They don’t look at the past and see their future. They only see what relates to their continuing gratifications.
It’s not a war between good and evil. It’s a constant battle between the mindful and mindlessness. Nor is it just about money. Having money is not a problem. It’s power being purchased by money that is a “big” problem. It’s based on a seriously flawed foundation belief. The belief that tells them: If I don’t control others, they will control me.
Things used to be hidden. They aren’t anymore. It is now clearly seen that no “real” change can occur until certain events and actions take place.
1. Money must be taken out of the election process.
2. Lobbying must be limited, or better yet, eliminated.
3. Term limits for those who are elected to the House and Senate.
4. Social Security and Medicare for everyone, including our State and Federal employees, and those in our political offices.
5. The same IRA’s for everyone. Again, that includes our State and Federal employees, and those in our political offices.
6. Restoration of Glass-Steagall to regulate those who don’t work to create anything other than their own wealth.
Notice the deflections. Most of them are too ridiculous to think about. The latest attempt has worked. It’s called the War on Women. Enormous amounts of time have been spent not only moaning, but taking action that is necessary to maintain the “same old place”. Sure, it has to be done, but when will we learn that we must stop the endless battle that simply keeps us in that place?
Are hormone pills for a woman’s health, with a side effect of controlling birth? That’s the wrong question. Because when we continue to ask it, we don’t get the right answer, which is: it doesn’t matter. It’s no one’s business. As long as it’s the government’s business, there is no separation between church and state (someone’s religious beliefs and our nation’s laws).
Politically, we act like frightened children who expect to be rescued by someone. A Superman or Superwoman. They don’t exit, therefore, that does not work. The only thing that can work is removal of what we wish to be rescued from: The sociopaths in politics.
Obama was elected to be the nation’s political “savior”. All that did was continue the need to be saved and rescued. For every push there is an automatic push back. Karma: cause and effect.
Don’t kid yourself. We are not dealing with people who are interested in history. Stop thinking they will learn from it. We are dealing with sociopaths. They don’t look at the past and see their future. They only see what relates to their continuing gratifications.
It’s not a war between good and evil. It’s a constant battle between the mindful and mindlessness. Nor is it just about money. Having money is not a problem. It’s power being purchased by money that is a “big” problem. It’s based on a seriously flawed foundation belief. The belief that tells them: If I don’t control others, they will control me.
Things used to be hidden. They aren’t anymore. It is now clearly seen that no “real” change can occur until certain events and actions take place.
1. Money must be taken out of the election process.
2. Lobbying must be limited, or better yet, eliminated.
3. Term limits for those who are elected to the House and Senate.
4. Social Security and Medicare for everyone, including our State and Federal employees, and those in our political offices.
5. The same IRA’s for everyone. Again, that includes our State and Federal employees, and those in our political offices.
6. Restoration of Glass-Steagall to regulate those who don’t work to create anything other than their own wealth.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Kindle Rocks
I’ve got some great news! Anyone who has a Kindle Prime Membership also has access to the Kindle Library where ANY OF MY BOOKS can be down-loaded FOR FREE!! Unlike the regular Libraries where my books are taken out, I get paid when a person borrows them from the Kindle Library. Let everyone know.
Here are the titles:
Just How DO Affirmations Work?
Sandman Healer (Dream Interpretation and Analysis)
The Sandman’s Treasury (Over 6,000 symbol definitions)
Colors, Symbols, Archetypes
Psychology of Numbers (Numerology)
My Soul Remembers (Poetry and Prose)
Infamous Eve, A History
May Sinclair, Author
www.maysinclairphd.com
Here are the titles:
Just How DO Affirmations Work?
Sandman Healer (Dream Interpretation and Analysis)
The Sandman’s Treasury (Over 6,000 symbol definitions)
Colors, Symbols, Archetypes
Psychology of Numbers (Numerology)
My Soul Remembers (Poetry and Prose)
Infamous Eve, A History
May Sinclair, Author
www.maysinclairphd.com
Friday, March 2, 2012
WHAT IF?
What if it’s true? What if there really is such a thing as Universal balancing—karma? What if those who are in charge now, because of their manipulation and the enforcement of their will onto others, will reincarnate into a life similar to those people they manipulated and controlled?
Karmic balancing is not a punishment. It’s not about blame either. Rather, karma teaches that all actions have a cause that makes its effect. The purpose is to raise consciousness about them.
Would that karmic balancing cause people like Daryl Issa to come back in another life-time as a woman? A woman who is forced to have one pregnancy after another until her body gives out. Or, come back into a life, as a girl who is raped—abused by someone in her own family—forced to keep it all a secret from her own sense of shame? Or perhaps, married to a man who decides she is not going to carry a pregnancy to term?
Will those men remain a victim to their own beliefs? Will they only exchange one side of the experience for the other side? I don’t wish that. I hope they can learn to understand in another way. Because all that would achieve is showing the polarization—not the balance. I’m not seeking revenge that begets more revenge. That doesn’t balance anything. It’s only when people can believe what they say about never acting in a manipulative or controlling way towards another that balance finally occurs.
But, then I’m not God, so maybe those like Daryl Issa will experience the other side of the extreme before understanding can be had by them.
Karmic balancing is not a punishment. It’s not about blame either. Rather, karma teaches that all actions have a cause that makes its effect. The purpose is to raise consciousness about them.
Would that karmic balancing cause people like Daryl Issa to come back in another life-time as a woman? A woman who is forced to have one pregnancy after another until her body gives out. Or, come back into a life, as a girl who is raped—abused by someone in her own family—forced to keep it all a secret from her own sense of shame? Or perhaps, married to a man who decides she is not going to carry a pregnancy to term?
Will those men remain a victim to their own beliefs? Will they only exchange one side of the experience for the other side? I don’t wish that. I hope they can learn to understand in another way. Because all that would achieve is showing the polarization—not the balance. I’m not seeking revenge that begets more revenge. That doesn’t balance anything. It’s only when people can believe what they say about never acting in a manipulative or controlling way towards another that balance finally occurs.
But, then I’m not God, so maybe those like Daryl Issa will experience the other side of the extreme before understanding can be had by them.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
One More Time
One more time…if we don’t learn from history we are bound to experience it, again.
While preparing a talk I’m giving about symbols I decided to use those for the two major political parties of the United States: the Donkey or Jackass and the Elephant. To my surprize I discovered they stuck as symbols back in the 1800’s when political cartoonist used them to lampoon a couple of our Presidents.
First, the symbol for the Democratic Party. The donkey is symbolic of patience, forbearance, suffering and stubbornness. It relates to having great stamina but not much power and creativity. And it concerns the feeling that there is a need for martyrdom to be expressed in satisfying another's wants, needs, and desires. The jackass symbolizes a stupid remark or action.*
Our 7th President, Andrew Jackson, was lampooned as a donkey. He genuinely feared the rise of a moneyed elite that he believed was bent on enriching themselves at the expense of the hardworking people of the United States and said in his Farewell address to America in 1837 : "...unless you become more watchful...and check this spirit of monopoly and thirst for exclusive privileges you will in the end find that the most important powers of Government have been given...away, and the control over your dearest interests has passed into the hands of these corporations."
It’s rather interesting that the quote is being similarly said by many a person today and found in our current newscasts.
Second, the symbol for the Republican Party. The elephant symbolizes the need to be thick skinned as it indicates a belief that survival requires hard work and sustaining energy because gaining power is of primary importance. It also indicates an inability to be forgiving due to the refusal to ever forget anything from the past.*
It was another political cartoonist, disgusted with the numerous scandals caused by our 17th President, Ulysses S. Grant’s lack of personal accountability among his subordinates and the cabinet members of his administration, who drew the Republican “vote” as a marauding elephant that became commonly used by other cartoonists eventually to be immediately recognized as the emblem for the Republican Party.
Once again, those scandals and lack of accountability by our political administrations could be easily related as a news item today.
Clearly, a symbol does not have to be kind to whatever or whomever it depicts for it to catch-on and stay stuck.
*"The Sandman’s Treasury", May Sinclair Copyright 2011
While preparing a talk I’m giving about symbols I decided to use those for the two major political parties of the United States: the Donkey or Jackass and the Elephant. To my surprize I discovered they stuck as symbols back in the 1800’s when political cartoonist used them to lampoon a couple of our Presidents.
First, the symbol for the Democratic Party. The donkey is symbolic of patience, forbearance, suffering and stubbornness. It relates to having great stamina but not much power and creativity. And it concerns the feeling that there is a need for martyrdom to be expressed in satisfying another's wants, needs, and desires. The jackass symbolizes a stupid remark or action.*
Our 7th President, Andrew Jackson, was lampooned as a donkey. He genuinely feared the rise of a moneyed elite that he believed was bent on enriching themselves at the expense of the hardworking people of the United States and said in his Farewell address to America in 1837 : "...unless you become more watchful...and check this spirit of monopoly and thirst for exclusive privileges you will in the end find that the most important powers of Government have been given...away, and the control over your dearest interests has passed into the hands of these corporations."
It’s rather interesting that the quote is being similarly said by many a person today and found in our current newscasts.
Second, the symbol for the Republican Party. The elephant symbolizes the need to be thick skinned as it indicates a belief that survival requires hard work and sustaining energy because gaining power is of primary importance. It also indicates an inability to be forgiving due to the refusal to ever forget anything from the past.*
It was another political cartoonist, disgusted with the numerous scandals caused by our 17th President, Ulysses S. Grant’s lack of personal accountability among his subordinates and the cabinet members of his administration, who drew the Republican “vote” as a marauding elephant that became commonly used by other cartoonists eventually to be immediately recognized as the emblem for the Republican Party.
Once again, those scandals and lack of accountability by our political administrations could be easily related as a news item today.
Clearly, a symbol does not have to be kind to whatever or whomever it depicts for it to catch-on and stay stuck.
*"The Sandman’s Treasury", May Sinclair Copyright 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Where do we go now?
It’s been a long time since I’ve written anything that is considered political, mainly because the political “is” personal and I’ve been so upset with the mess this country has found itself in which is based on the lack of concern from the vast majority of the politicians that I couldn’t get my thoughts onto paper, feeling like many: “What’s the use?”
I’m now looking at the fact that we will all be facing another election for the President of the United States without any true options. The campaign platform from Obama was not realized. He made promises of change that were not remotely kept. Both the Republican and Democratic Parties are filled with strife and the people who are willing to run for the office of President are both ridiculous and scary. So, where does that leave the vast majority of people who have been and remain affected by the political system that everyone agrees is broken? Maybe, it leaves us in a situation where we need another option. A third party, perhaps? Many say that won’t work because it will only take votes away from the Democratic Party, ensuring the Republicans will win the election. Well, I disagree with that thinking. After all, Obama won the last election because people believed him and his fine rhetoric about “change”.
Right now I’m cautiously looking at the options that are being created by various organizations that are doing what is necessary to form another way to get the United States of America back on track. That is possible. I don’t see is being possible by allowing the “broken system” to continue. We are living at a time when the citizens of this country are maturing. We tried to elect someone who gave the impression that he would “save” us and now realize we are going to have to save ourselves. All of the groups that can make a difference and change are going to need to support the people who have already shown what they stand for by looking at how they have formed, or re-formed, and voted on the issues that affect all of us. Those who have already shown that it is important for this country to get back to work rather than squabble over the finer points of ideology.
I’m a self-employed woman and am no more interested in a huge government that forms a welfare state than most other people. But, I am not so tunnel-visioned that I can’t see that the government needs to take actions to get people back to work, either. There are too many large corporations that have the edge over the small companies, especially when it comes to fossil fuels or renewable energy sources. The health insurance systems are based on profit rather than health care. There are too many comfortable politicians that listen to those rich corporation’s lobbyists and gain wealth from them to let the business communities regulate themselves. As long as the politicians are allowed to be kept separate from the average person they have no incentive to make “changes”. That is, unless they are not greedy and fearful, which is not the case for the vast majority who are content since they do not have to participate in Social Security, Medicare, and the need to contribute to their own retirement plan. And that is why the Democratic Party is worse off that the Republican Party. The Republicans are forced to vote the Party’s line or they don’t get the stay in office. Whereas far too many of the Democrats say one thing to get elected and then do something else when they are voted into office assuming the citizens of this country are not smart enough to come up with another option.
I don’t know which of the other options are the means of cleaning up the political mess yet, but I do know the ones we’ve had up till now are unacceptable.
I’m now looking at the fact that we will all be facing another election for the President of the United States without any true options. The campaign platform from Obama was not realized. He made promises of change that were not remotely kept. Both the Republican and Democratic Parties are filled with strife and the people who are willing to run for the office of President are both ridiculous and scary. So, where does that leave the vast majority of people who have been and remain affected by the political system that everyone agrees is broken? Maybe, it leaves us in a situation where we need another option. A third party, perhaps? Many say that won’t work because it will only take votes away from the Democratic Party, ensuring the Republicans will win the election. Well, I disagree with that thinking. After all, Obama won the last election because people believed him and his fine rhetoric about “change”.
Right now I’m cautiously looking at the options that are being created by various organizations that are doing what is necessary to form another way to get the United States of America back on track. That is possible. I don’t see is being possible by allowing the “broken system” to continue. We are living at a time when the citizens of this country are maturing. We tried to elect someone who gave the impression that he would “save” us and now realize we are going to have to save ourselves. All of the groups that can make a difference and change are going to need to support the people who have already shown what they stand for by looking at how they have formed, or re-formed, and voted on the issues that affect all of us. Those who have already shown that it is important for this country to get back to work rather than squabble over the finer points of ideology.
I’m a self-employed woman and am no more interested in a huge government that forms a welfare state than most other people. But, I am not so tunnel-visioned that I can’t see that the government needs to take actions to get people back to work, either. There are too many large corporations that have the edge over the small companies, especially when it comes to fossil fuels or renewable energy sources. The health insurance systems are based on profit rather than health care. There are too many comfortable politicians that listen to those rich corporation’s lobbyists and gain wealth from them to let the business communities regulate themselves. As long as the politicians are allowed to be kept separate from the average person they have no incentive to make “changes”. That is, unless they are not greedy and fearful, which is not the case for the vast majority who are content since they do not have to participate in Social Security, Medicare, and the need to contribute to their own retirement plan. And that is why the Democratic Party is worse off that the Republican Party. The Republicans are forced to vote the Party’s line or they don’t get the stay in office. Whereas far too many of the Democrats say one thing to get elected and then do something else when they are voted into office assuming the citizens of this country are not smart enough to come up with another option.
I don’t know which of the other options are the means of cleaning up the political mess yet, but I do know the ones we’ve had up till now are unacceptable.
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