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.’

'We see a glorious future for humankind'

Many people may be feeling particularly troubled about world affairs at this present time. I have turned to Seeking Serenity a very inspiring book of the White Eagle teaching. It really seems to me to ‘touch the spot’ at this present moment. As always, the teaching is so positive and reassuring, reminding us to let go all fear and trust in God’s perfect plan.

’Many are distressed about conditions on the earth plane; many are overwhelmed with fear, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. But we would tell you that we are happy about the evolution of man on earth. As we look upon the earthly conditions and all the complexities we see a most wonderful development in man and in man’s life on the earth plane. You become disappointed by the disputes and misunderstandings between people and the conflict between the races; but we see, beyond your mortal vision, a wonderful growth going on. We see rays of love being projected from the White Brotherhood and illumined souls in the heavenly spheres to the earth. You talk about love on your earth, but you have little understanding of the power and beauty of love as it is known on the higher planes.’

Truly it is so important is for us all—all light workers—to keep positive in our thoughts, not allowing ourselves to be disturbed by media stories or outer happenings. Whenever anything in world affairs troubles you, just think of the Star shining on the world, and know that God has a perfect plan and out of seeming chaos, good is coming.

’We can see a glorious future for humankind when the injustices have been righted and man has learnt the way of wisdom. We see the natural and beautiful coming together of all nations united in one vast brotherhood; a time coming when man will understand his 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 man will look up beyond the astral planes to that celestial world where Christ and His angels and all the shining company of heaven dwell.’

Halloween and All Souls

As the days grow shorter and nights longer here in the Northern hemisphere, there always has been a focus on festivals of light and dark. In modern times the festival of Halloween has become very commercialised and children in particular enjoy dressing up as witches and ghosts, and even bats. My seven year old grandson went off to a Halloween party on Saturday, thrilled with his bat costume and glove puppet.

With the Sun now in Scorpio, the vibration of this time of year, in whichever hemisphere we live, leads our thoughts towards the hidden mysteries of life, death and the hereafter. The traditional Christian festival of All Souls comes at this time too. It brings a good vibration for meditation, for inner contemplation and deeper understanding of the reality of the inner worlds and continuing companionship of family and loved ones who have passed on.

Let’s not think of them as ghostly figures, but open ourselves to the reality of their continued life and love. As White Eagle says often, heaven is not far away; heaven is here in our hearts. We can open our hearts now to our loved ones; open our inner ears to hear his/her voice speaking to us. Some of us may not ‘see’ but we can ‘feel’ their continuing love and companionship.

White Eagle says in White Eagle on Festivals and Celebrations:

‘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. We cannot give you any physical proof of our message of the eternal life, but God has given you the power within your heart to receive your own confirmation of its truth. You may search the world over. You may use every scientific instrument human kind can devise, you can seek through the ways of psychic phenomena: yet still this great truth of eternal life evades you when you search only along the earthly path. There is always something beyond all earthly things, something elusive which cannot be caught, trapped and harnessed by the human mind. It is so free, so subtle, that it can only be realised in your own heart. You have been given the gift of God in you; within your own being is the life of God, and it is your work here on earth so to live as to stimulate the growth of this God-consciousness.’