Another Star Miracle?

Memories came flooding back as I watched the news stories on the death of Martin McGuinness. What an amazing transformation in his life from IRA terrorist leader to peacemaker in Ireland, with his iconic meeting and handshake with the Queen!

I remember the days when IRA bomb scares were a frequent occurrence on the streets of London and hopes for peace In Ireland seemed far fetched. But throughout those troubled years, we kept on keeping on with our brotherhood prayers for Ireland, and many individuals working quietly with the Star in their groups and homes. We all believed, and do still believe, in the Power of the Star to bring about change - change of heart and change of entrenched views which have been carried down through generations. We knew and know that Star miracles DO happen.

Although those deeply affected by the bombings and events in Ireland and elsewhere, those who lost loved ones in the violence, find it very hard, forgiveness is possible and has been embraced by many. It was heartwarming to hear Ian Paisley`s son speaking eloquently about the reconciliation between his father and Martin McGuinness.

I feel this reflection on the past history of violence in Ireland, and the peace and forgiveness which have followed, can give us cause for renewed hope that one day peace will come in the Middle East and other troubled lands.

White Eagle says: ‘No kindness or love is ever lost. That which is good is creative, and it lives and it acts in due time.’

'All the world's a stage...'

‘All the World’s a Stage

and all the men and women merely players. 

They have their exits and their entrances, 

and one man in his time plays many parts...’

We have just celebrated over eighty years since the first White Eagle Lodge was opened on 22^nd February 1936. In the talk I gave in the New Lands Temple on Sunday I quoted Shakespeare’s words above and suggested that one secret of being happy, no matter what age we are in this particular life time, is to be thankful for  individual blessings every age brings. We can be happy no matter what, if we accept the flowing of time and remember that the earthly world is not the real world at all—it is an illusion, a stage—which we act upon for a period of time before returning to our heavenly home, hopefully having learnt useful lessons at every age.

One of these lessons could well be tolerance! As we relate with one another in families, with colleagues at work and in groups in many different situations we have many opportunities for learning lessons of understanding, forgiveness, and letting go previous preconceived ideas. As a teenager I had quite fixed ideas about how I thought things ‘should be’ and I was, I think, (on reflection) quite impatient with some older people. I could not imagine being old enough to be a grandmother!

Now I am at that stage in my life and happier than I have ever been. I don’t want to be twenty or thirty—I am embracing the joy of getting older, and learning from my lovely grandchildren. On Saturday I walked along a beautiful beach with my two granddaughters—Daisy 17 and Ellie 14—amd was touched by their maturity and wisdom. We talked about death and reincarnation, the origins of the White Eagle work and many aspects of spiritual philosophy. I learned a lot from them. We can all learn so much from one another, whatever age we are, and grow old gracefully!

And finally, a few words of great wisdom from White Eagle in Seeking Serenity which links with these thoughts:

‘When you make a so-called mistake, it is a certain step forward that you have to take so that you may learn wisdom. It will bring you in the end to perfect love. Never blame other people for your troubles. Neither blame yourself. Instead, always look within and seek the divine love within your heart; then you will see the reason for the conditions that limit you, and you will see the work you have to do within yourself. You can only rise by making the effort to put aside all that troubles you and reaching up to the heaven world.’

The Best of Times

The other day a friend gave me a newspaper cutting with this surprising headline: ‘2016 : it was the best of times’. Reflecting on the year that is past, I don’t think many of us would have said that! It seems to have been a year of great world challenges, and for many people, serious personal ones too. But the newspaper lists some surprising and wonderful statistics (actually given in a reader’s letter):

‘We are living in a world that is getting richer, in which the number of people living in extreme poverty has for the first time fallen below 10 per cent. Since 1990, almost 1.1 billion have escaped extreme poverty. World hunger reached its lowest point for 25 years in 2016 and, for the first time ever, the death penalty has become illegal in more than half of the world’s countries. The world got healthier too: since their peak a decade ago, Aids-related deaths have fallen by 45 per cent and infant mortality has halved since 1990.’

When so much of what we read and hear in the media seems negative and often very depressing, a report like this is truly a reason for New Year celebration!

White Eagle encourages us all the time to think positively, reminding us of the power of good thought to transform negative conditions and of the healing magic of the Star. ‘Read something negative, think healing Star magic’ is my philosophy, but how heartening it is to read something positive like this; it truly does lift the heart!

Just before writing my blog I found by chance these affirmative words of White Eagle in the book of his teaching Spiritual Unfoldment Volume 3:

‘Think of spiritual evolution as a most perfect procedure…… all the broken fragments of life are used and brought together in an indescribably lovely way to perfect the pattern of man’s life on Earth.’

Star Thoughts for the New Year

A happy Christmas tradition in my family has always been to watch the Queen’s speech on Christmas Day. This year I was particularly struck by her reference to the saying of St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta: ‘Not all of us can do great things but all of us can do small things with great love.’

For me this is a profound and inspiring statement to take into my heart as we stand at the beginning of a New Year and contemplate intentions, hopes and maybe resolutions for the months ahead.

The foundation stone of the White Eagle teaching is love, as it is of so many teachers and saints down the ages. Jesus said: ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself’. Mother Theresa was a supreme example of practising this commandment. She was a very simple, humble and practical lady—qualities of Jesus himself. Neither sought greatness; they simply did what they could to relieve distress and enfold with love all who came into their aura. I believe both are wonderful examples (as is Pope Francis) as we step forward into 2017.

Let’s strive to keep positive in our thoughts, hold all difficult conditions in the magical light of the Star; and do many small things with great love. As we read on page 29 of THE QUIET MIND: ‘And how, you ask, are we to walk the spiritual path. We answer: say little, love much, give all, judge no-one, aspire to all that is pure and good—and keep on keeping on.’

Christmas Gifts

At this time of year it can often feel that Christmas is becoming dominated by materialthings. This is quite a depressing train of thought which could turn us away from a possible inner experience of the unique magic of this festival.

White Eagle reminds us of the inner symbolism of the traditional Christmas story, and also that this is a time when there is a particular spiritual blessing, if we are able to open ourselves to receive it. It seems to me that this the real point—in order to receive the heavenly gift of Christmas we have to be ready and open.

White Eagle says: ‘At Christmas time we ask you to remember that the heavens are filled with a shining, angelic throng, and the heavens can open for you if you look to the Star, to the Light of Christ …… on Christmas morning there is a special heavenly outpouring of this Light.’

And as we receive the Light we long to share it…that is it’s magic. The wonderful thing is that it is limitless! There is enough light to fill every heart with heavenly comfort, and healing blessing. He reminds us too that the angels (however exalted they may be!) need human channels to bring their light right down into the darkest corners of the earth. So I feel that this is a time when much really effective healing work can be done. What I’ll be doing over the coming days is tuning in to the Star as often as I can, and offering my gift of light, of positive thoughts, and goodwill for the angels to use. This is something we can all do in our own way…working with the Christmas angels.

As White Eagle said in a teaching many years ago: ‘The light from your spirit will light the torch of your brother, thus many torches will be lit throughout the world. One simple brother’s heart may warm and lighten the hearts of many. You are pioneers. Keep the spirit of Christmas bright and shining.’