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.’

Nothing Happens By Chance

I have been brought up with White Eagle’s teachings and a belief that all major events in our lives have been pre-chosen before we came back into incarnation in this particular earthly lifetime. This, for me, brings a wonderful sense of security  and wellbeing.

Many years ago now I decided to set off on my own on some adventure travels.  Having had a very secluded and secure upbringing at New Lands, our main centre of what is now the worldwide White Eagle work, I felt I wanted to discover the world and knew inwardly that I had to do this on my own. I was fortunate enough to feel safe and protected by the power of the Star throughout all my travels.

When we hear of violence around the world, or terrible tragedies such as the recent shooting down of the Malaysian civilian flight, our natural thought is how terrible it is that such a thing happened, but also fear for ourselves or loved ones whenever we travel. Statistically it is much more dangerous to drive our cars than it is to travel on aeroplanes. But whether it is by plane, car, train, or however we venture out of our houses, I believe that rather than living our lives in fear, we can give ourselves a wonderful feeling of security if we trust what White Eagle is telling us: ‘Nothing happens out of order or by chance. The great law brings into your life the very circumstances that you need for growth.’  This is a quote from his much loved, best selling book The Quiet Mind—a quote which may be very familiar to many of you.

I am sure that everyone has been deeply touched by the media stories of the grieving families and our hearts and healing thoughts go out to them, but I do not believe it was actually ‘by accident’ that their relatives were on that particular flight. I could not help thinking about the story of Barry and Izzy Sim, the British family who were booked on MH17. When they arrived at the airport they were told there were not enough seats on the plane and they were ‘bumped off’. Was this a chance happening, or was it that it was not in their life plan to pass at that time, nor for their little baby? So in this interesting way they were protected. I expect if we look back on our lives we can think of circumstances, maybe near miss car crashes for example, where we feel so deeply blessed that we have been looked after, I would say by our guardian angel? White Eagle has given much reassuring teaching about this. Here is an extract from his Little Book of Angels:

‘At the time of a person’s birth, and even before the actual birth, the guardian angel is at work. The moment that the soul takes the decision to reincarnate, it comes under the care of the guardian angel. That guardian angel remains with the soul during the whole of its life, and when the soul passes onward, the guardian angel receives the soul in the spirit world. The guardian angel works under the direction of the Lords of Karma, because the soul in its charge has come back in order to pay its karmic debts and thereby to clear certain lessons. The guardian angel is not of the human kingdom. It is concerned with the karma of the soul in its charge and helps to bring about certain conditions in the soul’s life.’

Courageous Effort and Group Celebration!

It seems to me that many things are changing in today’s world and some things are changing very fast. It can seem hard to keep up. Communication is one area where it is all happening. You (or your child or grandchild) may have the latest phone or Ipad and next year it is out of date.

Sometimes the changes are very welcome, but others can be worrying. Looking back, something which has not changed in the last twenty years or so is the idea of sponsoring someone for a charitable cause when they have made a special effort. Indeed, this seems more popular than ever and social media advances have given more ways to get sponsors. There are media stories almost daily about courageous endeavours in aid of one charity or another. Many individuals are inspired to set up their own charity out of experiences of personal sorrow. There are so many examples of good coming out of tragedy.

A really ‘Aquarian age’ phenomenon coming out of sponsored events is the way they draw people together in groups in joyful celebration. Looking back on my own life, one of my proudest moments was cheering on my son Michael when he ran in the London Marathon. The feeling of group celebration as the runners were cheered home in St. James Park is something I shall never forget. As with every year, the so-called ‘fun runners’ were supporting many different charities and had put in hours of training. There were so many tears of joy, so many proud supporters and so much needed money raised for many good causes.

Last weekend I had a similar experience of joyful group celebration following courageous endeavour, when I stood on the beach at Colwell Bay on the Isle of Wight to cheer in my son-in-law, Joe, as he completed his swim across the Solent (the strip of sea between the southern coast of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight). Not having been a strong swimmer before, he signed up for his swim to support his local sports centre as well as my own little charity Star Action. It was a fantastic achievement—I was so proud. As I drove home afterwards I passed groups of cyclists with the name of a charity they were cycling for on their T-shirts and more crowds cheering them on.

We live in a wonderful world, I thought. Yes, there are awful things happening, but there are truly many wonderful people doing amazing things; things which inspire everyone to think of others and give—even if it is only a ‘widow’s mite’. Of course, the act of giving brings its own inner gift to the donor too.

So I would say, don’t be depressed about where our world is going. We are doing well! The magic of the Star is touching many, many hearts and minds, and they are opening.

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