The Star Shines in Nepal

I am writing this on the plane home after a few extraordinary days with the White Eagle group in Nepal. From my visits, it really seems to me that the Nepalese people have the remarkable ability of presenting a smiling face and happy, positive attitude, no matter what hardship they are facing in their lives, being born into one of the poorest countries of the world. Our White Eagle Nepalese family are no exception to this, and I have been deeply touched by their commitment to service and the ideals of the true brotherhood of all people of every culture and religion.

I have personal links with this very special country which go back to 1989. In that year I visited twice! In January I went on holiday with an adventure travel group. The trip included time in the Chitwan National Park (elephant rides, canoeing and nature trails), and wild water rafting, camping at the riverside. But the life-changing highlight was my first glimpse of what is for me the most wonderful mountain in the world—

Machapuchare. When I saw it, a few days into our trek in the Annapurna region of the Himalayas, I did not know it was the holy mountain of the Nepalese, and no-one was allowed to climb it. I could see with my inner eyes a bright pulsating, shining six-pointed star above the Himalayan peak. I knew I had to get as near to it as I could. That first trek did not take me near enough. This led to my return in October that same year, when I was personally guided by a Sherpa friend I had made in the first trek to the base camp and into the Annapurna Sanctuary. I knew then that this amazing valley, surrounded by some of the highest peaks of the Himalayas, was and is an etheric meeting place of wise teachers of the Star Brotherhood who inspire the worldwide White Eagle work. Then, and on subsequent visits, I have been deeply aware of the special spiritual heritage of Nepal (and of course the bordering country Tibet, both in the heart of the Himalayas), and its deep connection with the White Eagle work.

Now it has been my great joy to re-visit—this time to meet with our White Eagle family in Nepal and to initiate our leaders there, Krishna and Sunita Ardikari, as Star Brothers, thus laying the foundations for our first physical brotherhood in the Indian subcontinent. (Dedicated co-workers will be joining in this work in due course.)

Something which makes the White Eagle work in Nepal very special is that our leaders are also personally committed to ‘brotherhood in action’ service in the community. During my visit I was asked to officially open and bless their ‘Haven on Earth’ Children’s Care Centre and help distribute blankets and food to the blind and disabled poor of Kathmandu. I also visited and talked with the children in a school for those who are truly desperately poor , also sponsored by our White Eagle family in Nepal. It was all an incredibly moving experience. For Krishna, Sunita and their group leaders and White Eagle workers, this is all an intrinsic part of their ‘Star service’. This touched my heart specially of course, because of my own work in founding the separate little charity, Star Action.

The final joy of my visit was to be presented with the first printed copies of my children’s book Peter Parrot and his Magic Star’ translated into Nepalese, with Rosemary Young’s delightful colour illustrations immaculately reproduced. It was an extraordinary moment in my life to hear Krishna’s right hand man, Keshib  talking eloquently about his hope that all Nepalese children would be inspired by this magical parrot (my idea to write these books had come when I was in Nepal all those years ago). Thank you Keshib and Krishna and all your amazing team of Star workers. Already, as I fly home to the UK, I am looking forward to my return!

Vision for Good

When I was in Denmark at the beginning of June for a Conference of our European Star Centres Leaders, I was very aware of Grace Cooke, the founder of our work. She had very bright and sparkling brown eyes. (In fact in the early days of her work with White Eagle he called her ‘Brighteyes’.) She reminded me of the Biblical saying ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’. As she spoke inwardly to me, I could see again so clearly her lovely eyes twinkling with loving understanding, but also a fiery encouragement to be strong in our endeavours to hold the positive vision of the Star helping us create miracles.

White Eagle is constantly encouraging us to hold a positive vision for the world and our own lives. When I was asked recently if it is wrong to use affirmations for our own personal lives, I answered that I felt it was alright to do so as long as we use the qualifying words, ‘If it is according to God’s will and plan for my life’. I feel it is positive to keep affirming good and harmony, and indeed miracles filling our lives. This feeling of good coming and the harmony of God’s love flowing through all we experience, brings a deep feeling of peace and wellbeing which must also touch the lives of all those around us. Positive affirmations encourage the light of God, the Christ, to arise within us. As White Eagle says in Initiations on the Path of the Soul:  ‘We think that there are a great many people today who have unknowingly reached the stage of being “poor in spirit”. If so, they all have a great work before them, not necessarily to be accomplished by teaching or preaching from a platform or pulpit, but by putting the power of Christ into their everyday life. With Christ anything can be accomplished. The mistake that so many people make is to depend on their own power. For the secret is to enter the heart chamber, the inner well, the place of tranquillity and stillness, and there pray; in other words, to stand on one side and let the God-power work through the medium of the body, mind and soul. Then there is nothing that cannot be accomplished because whatever is done is to the glory of God. Any soul able to commune with God is ready to manifest God.’

I feel these inspiring words help us to realise that all things are possible. As White Eagle also says (in his much loved book, The Quiet Mind): ‘To think you are no good, is to doubt God’s power. Never doubt the power of God to work through you.’

Reflections on the Commonwealth Games

Over the past two weeks here in the UK, we have had the opportunity to watch on television (or maybe lucky enough to actually attend) the inspiring spectacle of the Commonwealth Games taking place this time in Glasgow. This famous Scottish city has done the games proud. In these games the different countries of the UK—Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland—compete separately, but with great camaraderie and mutual support. Indeed, this seems to have been a feature of these games. There have been many scenes of competitors warmly congratulating their rivals, although they themselves missed out on their hoped for medals. In a previous blog—at the time of the World Cup—I wrote a piece entitled ‘Who Wins’, citing the Olympic creed and the importance of courageously taking part whatever the result. This spirit has certainly been demonstrated throughout these past days.

In both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games (the World Cup too, of course), there is an opportunity for many different nations to come together with a common purpose. The Commonwealth Games actually began many months ago when the Queen’s baton started its long journey across all the Commonwealth countries, in a similar way to the Olympic flame. But there is something very moving to me about a baton going from hand to hand, truly a symbol of friendship. These games are called ‘The Friendly Games’ with seventy-one countries taking part. During the fortnight of the games, with the news also full of the sad conflict in the Middle East, I have found the spectacle of so many other nations coming together in true friendship and shared endeavour, very balancing and uplifting.

This time also coincides with the centenary of the beginning of the tragedy of first World War I. And today, even though conflicts still rage in some parts of the world, there are many signs of hope. More and more people of so many countries around the world are realising that killing one another is not the answer, whereas the hand of friendship and understanding truly makes a difference. White Eagle tells us to keep hope high in our hearts and focus on the positive, and I believe that events like the Games, do help us to do that and show that there is another side to humanity, which is our ability to be there for each other even when we are competing. As resources in the world become stretched we will need to be able to work together in this way more and more.

The six-pointed Star, which White Eagle gave us as a powerful focal point for our prayer for peace eighty years ago now, is shining brightly over our world today, encouraging goodwill to arise in every heart and mind. I truly believe that conflicts will end, maybe sooner than we think.

As White Eagle says in Seeking Serenity : ‘We can see a glorious future for humankind when the injustices have been righted and men and women have learned the way of wisdom. We see the natural and beautiful coming together of all nations, united in one vast brotherhood; a time coming when human beings will understand their responsibility towards all the kingdoms of life! Be assured also that in world affairs right will conquer and justice will balance apparent wrongs. There will come an expansion of consciousness and humanity will look up beyond the astral planes to that celestial world where Christ and the angels and all the shining company of heaven dwell.’