Who Wins?

We are very much in the season of sporting endeavour here in the UK now. It is all happening—Wimbledon tennis with Andy Murray defending his title, the Tour de France cycling championship beginning soon in the North of England, and of course the World Cup football well underway.

Sport has a profound effect on many of us. It seems to bring up very deep emotions of national pride and the desire for one’s own team to win, (or the individual athlete we might support). Some people might think that it is part of being human to become almost as fanatical about sport as we can be about religious causes! On the day of writing this (the opening day of Wimbledon) I heard on the news that police expect a very big increase in domestic violence at times of key football matches and other major sporting events. The combination of drink and a passionate desire for a particular outcome can have this very sad effect.

I pray we can move beyond this in the age which is dawning now, for it is indeed an age of heightened awareness of worldwide problems—of the futility of violence and war, and of the oneness of all the human family. In this context I have been contemplating the whole question of national pride and its correct and balanced place in our societies. Our sporting endeavours bring wonderful opportunity to learn about other cultures (we have been hearing a lot about Brazil on our British TV!) and the more we learn of other countries, the more understanding heart to heart will unfold, and the less likelihood of future wars. Then it is also good to remember that the winning is probably not the most significant victory of the day. The Olympic creed reminds us: ‘The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.’

White Eagle tells us that true victory lies within each of us, on a daily basis. It lies in maintaining our inner poise and centre of peace no matter what. It lies in acceptance and peaceful surrender when the outcome is not what we hoped. It lies in our open-hearted happiness at the joy of those who feel uplifted by the result. I feel that if we truly believe in the oneness of the human family, we all share in that victory of endeavour, whatever country, ‘team’ or hero holds up the winner’s cup.

And finally, some wise words from White Eagle about surrender:

‘You have to develop the consciousness of the power of the star to perform miracles. But remember it is not your will when a miracle is performed. It is God’s power; it is God’s will. God is the light in the human being, and God alone gives or withdraws according to divine wisdom. We hope you understand that, and will not force what you think ought to be done. Surrender, my children, surrender to God’s will in all things.

      The Source of all our Strength, p.94

Healing Our Beautiful Earth

There has been much in the news recently about the new process known as ‘fracking’. Tests may be undertaken within our local South Downs National Park. There are those in favour, and of course, many absolutely against this. In the light of our aspiration to ‘heal the Earth’ and live more in harmony with the Earth, I have been thinking and reading about this a lot recently.

Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.

‘Shale gas is not the solution to the UK’s energy challenges,’ said Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Tony Bosworth. ‘We need a 21^st century energy revolution based on efficiency and renewable, not more fossil fuels that will add to climate change.’

It certainly seems as though whatever the researchers and scientists may say about its safety and potential to recover natural gas from within the earth without damaging the environment, it is certainly a very intrusive process.

We have designated Sunday 22^nd June (the Sunday nearest the solstice) our White Eagle World Earth Healing Day. White Eagle groups all over the world are gathering in different sacred places to pray for the Earth.

It seems a good opportunity to hold in our prayers at this time the work of scientists and environmentalists. The power of the Star will bring inspiration and clarity in their work to find the best possible solutions for the benefit of all people and to develop new sources of energy which are most in harmony with our beautiful planet.

White Eagle says in the book Earth Healer:  ‘The night is passing, surely passing, and the day of joy is at hand. This earth planet, very dark at present, is slowly quickening in vibration. Take no notice of those who say that the world will never become perfect, for they are wrong. The world is destined to become an etherealised planet, a planet of perfect light, and the life on that planet will become most beautiful. Now you are aiding in the creation of a brighter world. In the same way that thought affects action, so it affects physical matter, quickening its vibration, so that eventually the whole earth will not only be beautiful to look at and to live upon. Humanity will assist in the raising of the earth planet itself, the darkness will gradually be dissolved.’