Passion brings power for change

I have a little notebook by my bed in which I write notes about ideas which drop into my head for future writing. I opened it today, and found this heading, 'Passion brings power for change'! There was no date, and I cannot remember when I wrote this down, but when I read it this morning, I thought, 'Yes, this is what White Eagle wants me to write about this time.' I had asked him the night before for an idea for my next blog, and I have noticed over the months, the subtle way in which he gives me hints! Sometimes, it is a chance remark from someone, sometimes a news item or something I read in a magazine, or I am drawn to open a particulart book I have not looked at for a long time.

 Anyway, I have been contemplating recently the inspiring way in which many people are standing up to be counted, and actively working to bring about positive change in so many areas of life. Obviously,  people are deeply concerned about our planet,  the environment, pollution of our oceans, and the whole issue of global warming. (All much in the news just now with the big conference this weekend.) People are feeling passionate about these things, and as I wrote, 'passion brings power for change'. Looking back in history, we can see this over and over again, the abolition of slavery, and changes in the terrible working conditions of the poor, are just two examples.

 In the White Eagle Lodge we have experienced over many years the power of prayer, and this is an important focus of our work. I personally feel passionate about it and the miraculous power of our shining Star symbol. Not a day passes, when I do not think about the Star, but in the last few months I have added more clearly to my Star work, a concentration linked very deliberately with the fifth Ray, the blue ray, which can be thought of as the Ray of Science - or heavenly science and wisdom brought right down to practical application in earthly conditions. Throughout this time of the pandemic, we owe so much to our passionately dedicated scientists and researchers who have been untiring in their efforts to find ways to help us all. So I pray our wonderful Star will bring that extra help, and strength they need to 'keep on keeping on' with their research -  and receive the heavenly  gift of inspiration from the Wisdom Temple of Science!

 White Eagle reminds us in 'Seeking Serenity': 'Do you know how the world is progressing? You may think that disaster lies ahead for some countries or people - but, oh, if only you could see with a clear vision, you would see how great is the power of the Light in your brethren!'

Ode to Autumn

 

“Season of Mists and mellow fruitfulness, close-bosom friend of the maturing sun:

conspiring with him now to load and bless with fruit the vines that found the

thatch-eves run; to bend with apples the moss’d cottage trees and fill all fruit

with ripeness to the core.”     Keats

I love this time of year here in the UK, when gradually, day by day, it

is getting dark a little earlier and sunrise (if we are blessed with a sunny morning) is a little later. As Keats famous poem so evocatively describes it, Autumn has a magic all of its own. The many colours of the leaves, the fruits and berries and very lush flowers, the scents and sounds, and these days again, thankfully, more butterflies, bring such a joyous feeling to my heart. I have so many happy memories of childhood times at New Lands – the gathering of blackberries in the hedgerows, chestnuts and games with conkers – and decorating New Lands chapel for our Harvest Festival service. In those days I was not so aware of the terrible suffering of starving people around the world, but we were taught not to waste and to be very thankful.

Thankfulness is a wonderful quality and I still love (and sing!) the traditional Harvest hymns. ‘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.’ Such simple words but so meaningful, and especially so, I think, in our world today, when so many things seem to have become so much more complicated and stressful. Constant news from all around the globe can feel like a mixed blessing, and remembering to do the simple things, like offering the gift of a kind smile or sending an unexpected greeting brings its own reward in the heart, like a soothing balm, and ‘the mellow fruitfulness of Autumn’. In this season we literally reap the seeds of earlier sowings and nature reminds us all the time of the law of karma, giving a wonderful natural prompt. In the midst of everything which seems negative in our world, we are reminded how much we have to be thankful for.

There is a White Eagle book, White Eagle on Festivals and Celebrations which contains his inspiring teaching linked to the seasons. These words come from the ‘Harvest’ chapter about ‘A Law of Giving and Receiving’.

‘A divine law operates through both the act of giving and the act of receiving. Experience has taught you that by creating a condition of love and harmony deep within your own heart you draw to yourself love and harmony; by creating beauty within, you draw external beauty to you. In other words, as you give, so you receive. What you put into life flows back in full measure – this is inescapable law. It is impossible for any man or woman to give truly from the heart without receiving exactly what they have given.'

Heavenly Gardens and Childhood Memories of New Lands Garden

I was very fortunate to grow up living in a little cottage on the New Lands estate.
'Wide Horizons' is its name, and it has great views of the beautiful Hampshire countryside, with glorious sunsets and golden light bathing the little garden. My dad, John Hodgson, (our first treasurer of the Lodge in those early days, and very clever he was at helping us all exist on a shoestring!) had green fingers and he spent any spare time he had in the garden. In those days, just after the second world war, everyone was growing vegetables, making chutney and jam (and he was great at this), and we had free range hens too. Lovely to see in lockdown how these simple, natural pursuits have come back into our lives. It is heartwarming too, the way those living in urban environments are being encouraged to develop little garden spaces wherever possible. We are all being encouraged to help wildlife flourish and many public gardens now have wild flower spaces to encourage pollination. There really are more bees and butterflies around this year - it has thrilled my heart to hear and see them.

 My childhood memories have come flooding back...in the 1950s, long before the first Temple was build on New Lands hill, on summer afternoons my Mum used to pack us a picnic tea, and with my sister Rose, and cousins, Colum and Jeremy, we went into New Lands garden and enjoyed all the beauty there. A special favourite was the pond, and in late summer, we would look very carefully for the dragonfly lavae who had climbed up the water plants. There usually were one or two who had just emerged and were drying their wings in the sunlight before flying off in their new freedom. My mum used this beautiful sight as a means to explain death*  to us, and the other children who came to the monthly children's service she led in New Lands chapel. She also talked with us about the beauty of the gardens in heaven, which she called the 'Summerland' - always sunshine there, it seems, and the flowers, birds and insects more lovely than even our paradise gardens on earth. That is where we may go when our bodies sleep at night, she told us, and where we wake up when the time has come to leave behind our physical body...

 And as White Eagle tells us, on the last page of his 'Little Book of Comfort for the Bereaved': 'Let us become aware of the beautiful garden of reunion. Each soul is taken to the quiet sanctuary to sleep until they are ready to awaken to the new life which awaits them. When they wake, they look out into a sunlit garden which is as dear and familiar to them as their most loved garden on earth; and thus they can walk into the sunlight to meet their beloved family and friends who are awaiting their coming. Stay a while here and commune with your loved ones...`

Such a lovely vision for us all to contemplate.

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 * I have recently been given a little book on this theme 'Water Bugs and Dragonflies' by Doris Stickney.  ISBN 978-1-4729-7315-3. It has lovely illustrations, and explains beautifully for children death and re-brith into the heaven world. (First published in 1982, it is still in print.)

 

 

Ending the 'Cage Age'

 When things are hidden from our sight, we sometimes do not realise what is going on. The fact that more than three hundred million animals are kept in cages across Europe is a shocking statistic. I have just been reading my latest copy of 'Farm Animal Voice', the magazine of the charity Compassion in World Farming, and could hardly believe that in this more enlightened age such cruelty still continues towards the animal kingdom. I read, 'hundreds of millions of hens, sows, rabbits, geese, ducks, quail and calves are imprisoned in cages. These inhumane systems are a desolate reflection on society - but thanks to you, many members of The European Parliament and European Commissioners have now expressed support for ending their use.' The report goes on to explain that last October CIWF submitted their 'End the Cage Age' petition to the European Commission with 1.4 million signatures.

 My cousin, Jeremy Hayward, has just emailed me saying, 'This is a monumental new dawn for Europe's 300 million plus caged animals and possibly Compassion's biggest achievement in its fifty four years of campaigning - a historic turning point.' He went on to tell me how proud he feels to be associated with this organisation which was founded by two brothers of the Lodge. I myself well remember that time, and the inspiration they had received from White Eagle to stand up and be counted; not turning a blind eye to the cruelty that Peter (Roberts) witnessed at first hand in his work as a salesman in the farming industry. Our former Lodge Mother, Ylana (Jeremy's mother) was one of the founding trustees of the new charity, and Jeremy coninues her work. 

 Prayer brings about many miracles, as we know, especially when linked with the incredible power and light of our shining six-pointed Star symbol. But I also believe that there are times when this should be combined with action on the outer plane. This inspiring story of 'Ending the Cage Age' is an example of this, and I know has White Eagle's blessing. We all long, I am sure, for cruelty towards our family of human brothers and sisters to end, but White Eagle has long said, that this must be linked with the ending of cruelty towards our animal brethren too.

 I have great hope that we are indeed at the dawn of a new era when cruelty will become a thing of the past (like human slavery), and greater understanding of what brotherhood with our animal brethren really means will unfold in every human  heart.

Surrender to God's Love

 Warm summer sunshine is blessing these early days of June, and helping everyone feel happier, after a cold wet May and the restrictions the pandemic has brought into all our lives.

This morning I opened White Eagle`s book of meditation 'The Still Voice' at page 109 which is entitled 'Surrender to God's Love'.

He says, 'If you will contemplate for a moment the intricate beauty of a butterfly's wing, or the petals of a rose, you will perhaps begin to glimpse the perfect plan which is in the mind of your Creator; you will know that all is good, all is working in obedience to divine law.'

We can learn so much from the careful observation of the natural world around us; it can bring great comfort to watch the unfolding new life as winter turns into spring, and spring to summer...the same pattern year after year. 

 Although the pandemic has been and still is very hard for many people, there have been some outcomes which can be seen as positive. More people are being encouraged to take time out to notice and enjoy the beauties of nature, and to grow things - even if their only outdoor space is a little balcony. There is an even greater awakening to our need to look after the natural resources of our beautiful planet, and the way in which every creature, every insect, has its part to play in the wonder of God's plan for life on earth. I have taken delight in noticing that there do seem to be more butterflies around, and more bees too. The other day an exquisite little caterpillar crawled across my path; he/she was stunningly beautiful, basking in the morning sunshine. Even insects which we may not like very much have their part to play in the great scheme of things! And in just the same way, the happenings in our lives, which we may not like very much, bring us valuable lessons, with an opportunity to trust the process of life and 'surrender to God's love'.

 Later on in the passage mentioned above, White Eagle goes on to say:

'A sparrow shall not fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.' When he said this, Jesus was trying to convey how great is God's love for you, God's child. If you could only surrender yourself to the divine law and understand that what is happening to you is all part of a perfect outworking of this law, then you could be at peace.'

 Comforting words for us all at this time...and as we watch the butterflies, bees and insects enjoying the sunshine, maybe they can be a reminder of God's amazing plan for all life, including our own, and help us feel that all really will be well, whatever the challenges we are currently facing.

Wings of Light

I had a lovely surprise just shortly after my local Sports and Community Centre reopened. Fluttering in the Spring sunshine were some pretty silver cut-outs of birds in flight. And beside them an inspiring notice which reads:

'Birds remind us of the multitude both living and dead who accompany us through our lives. Birds are everywhere; in the sky, gathered in trees, in parks and on the street. They are part of the everyday.

Birds can fly long distances, but also play a part in what makes each place and our communities unique. This year we can make the birds a unique symbol to help us remember all those who lost their lives in the covid pandemic.'

The physical loss of our loved ones is a very sad fact of life. Whether our lives are long or short, every one of us will die one day.

Obviously the Covid pandemic has made many people even more aware of the fragility of our earthly life, and the inevitability of death at some time...sooner or later...and the pain of physical loss. Fortunately I do not know personally anyone who has died from Covid during this time, but death, especially, when it is unexpected, and loved ones cannot be close at the time, is really hard to bear, and I am sure we have all been praying that the bereaved will be comforted - and some comfort can come in wonderful ways - the birth of a new baby in the family, the love of a pet, the beauty of spring time...

I am fortunate to have grown up with White Eagle's teaching, and the knowledge of reincarnation, and continuing contact with those whom we have loved in this and former lives. He helps us understand that when the moment of death comes, we are cared for in a very beautiful way, and lifted 'as on wings of light' by an angelic helper into the beautiful sunlit heaven world.

In 'White Eagle's Little Book of Comfort for the Bereaved' he tells us:

'The angel of death is present at every passing, no matter how it happens. That soul is caught up by the angel and is gently borne into the spirit. Usually the soul is in the form of a babe. The passing from the physical state to the next state is exactly the same as birth into the physical life; the soul appears to become like a little babe. The little form is built up above the physical body and is enfolded in the love of the angel of death. It is wrapped in the loving robe of the angel and borne away into its new state of life where other angels wait to minister to it and gradually awaken it to a state of awareness of its new life.'

You can also find support in White Eagle's book: 'A Guide for Living with Death and Dying'.