Remembering Our Loved Ones

This time of year, as the nights get long, and the days short and often dark, (here in the Northern Hemisphere), it is a traditional time for thinking of the other world, and of course Halloween has now become a noteable date for many children and young people. 

 

The Diwali Festival in the Hindhu religion and All Saints in the Christian tradition fall at this time, and are followed soon after by Remembrance day, when nations remember all those who have lost their lives in war.

 

For those with esoteric knowledge, it is a time when the Sun is in the sign of Scorpio, the sign of hidden secrets, and the mystery of life, death and what lies beyond. In the book 'Festivals and Celebrations', White Eagle tells his readers, 'We pray that your inner vision may open to the company of shining ones, friends, brothers and sisters of your spirit who draw close to you at the festival of All Souls.'

 

My mother, Joan Hodgson, passed on into the world of light on 8th October 1995. Although this is nearly twenty five years ago now, I still have a vivid memory of this time, and her joy as she approached her 'death' and, as she said, 'going home' - looking forward to her happy reunion with her much loved husband and partner in White Eagle's work, John, my father. 

 

As I was walking beside the sea, at the time of her passing, just a couple of weeks ago, I was very aware of her walking beside me (as she used to do, in this favourite place we both love). She looked (and is) so young and happy and full of vitality - not at all like the ghosts which are portrayed as part of halloween! 

 

Your loved ones can come very close to you too, especially at this time. It is not the gift of just a chosen few to feel this! White Eagle encourages us all to open our inner eyes, our inner senses, and believe. It is true - really, 'Where there is love there can be no separation'.

Thank You God!

I have a clear childhood memory of the little prayer that we used to sing before meals:

Thank you for the world so sweet,

Thank you for the food we eat,

Thank you for the birds that sing,

Thank you God for everything.

 

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we have been celebrating Harvest time, (and, of course, it is Spring in the Southern Hemisphere), and it is a traditional time for saying `Thank you`, maybe something we forget in these days when food, vegetables and fruit are imported from all over the world!

 

But as I walk in our English countryside, seeing the abundance of nature, my heart is full of thankfulness that our world is so lovely, and so full of such an infinite variety of beauty. I heard a chaffinch singing  happily this morning, and even butterflies still around, bees buzzing in the warm autumn sunshine, and saw so many colourful flowers in gardens and hedgerows. i couldn`t help myself from saying inwardly many times, just simply `Thank you God!`

 

There is a passage of White Eagle`s teaching about thankfulness in 'Prayer, Mindfulness and Inner Change', in which he makes a different point about thankfulness, which I often contemplate too, and want to share now, as I feel it is important when we look out at the many things going on in our world today. He says:

 

'When we sit in the silence and commune with the invisible, we become aware of the praise and thanksgiving flowing from the heart of God. It may seem strange to you to think of God giving thanks, but we ask you to consider this idea of God pouring forth thankfulness. God created the world, the heavens and all things. And God gave thanks when he beheld his creation.'

 

I believe that this is so, no matter what humankind are doing! The gift of thankfulness is healing in so many ways, and our thankfulness is part of our own healing service to the whole of God`s creation, linking in a magical way with the vibration of thankfulness flowing from the heartbeat of all life.