From the IFGT Meditation Archive…

Dennis Kwiatkowski

A number of Meditation Focus articles throughout 2019 spoke of, among other things, eliminating the root causes of problems, being open to new views, the revealing of truth, the importance of kindness, the need to detach, slow down, and go inward. They also spoke of finding emotional equilibrium no matter what is going on out there, the importance of the power of your thoughts and prayers, the need to attend to your health, etc. All of this in preparation for what astrologers indicated would be needed for maturity and responsibility, in the slow unfolding of a new era.

In one of those Focus articles, astrologer Steve Wolfson pointed out that this was a time of embracing change—a time for us to collectively shake off a lot of the ways we have looked at life and ourselves, why we’re here, and who we are. Though this is often uncomfortable and comes with a sense of loss, a sense of confusion, uncertainty, and even fear as part of the process–most of us find our growth when something has brought us into a space that is uncomfortable. Painful experiences are frequently life changing, and turning points in our lives. Everything that occurs is occurring to help us grow—from the perspective of soul–which has a long term perspective.

I mentioned last December that the astrological influences in the year 2020 and the years to come are major.  They are not to be feared but are tremendous opportunities that we have been preparing for these past many years. They call us to bring forth the best from our soul as we move from one age to another—a better age for all.  They give us the opportunity to stand for what is right.  They assure us that divine aid and help will be there when needed as we work together to create a better world for all.

So much of that predicted change has manifested in the current Covid-19 pandemic.  During this crisis, there have been many examples of heroic, inspiring, and moving stories of people giving their all and being creative in unselfishly helping others, easing suffering, and working to resolve the crisis.  In this regard, the work so many of you have been doing in directing metaphysical aid and loving thoughts and prayers has been of tremendous assistance.  The crisis has also highlighted areas that are woefully lacking in our society.

In one of the most recent Star Wars films, the Jedi-Master Yoda says: “The greatest teacher, failure is.” This means our struggles are not in vain. While it is true that we always finally learn when we are figuratively hit over the head with a Cosmic Two-by-Four (or enough Two-by-Fours until we tire of the experience and ask the question: Is there something I’m missing?  Is there something I’m doing wrong?), the fact is we do have free will.  We don’t always have to wait for a painful defining experience—we often have a choice to learn in less dramatic ways.

In past writings over the years, I have also occasionally referenced people who were giants in their individual fields—among them magician/escape artist Harry Houdini, filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, and symphonic conductor George Szell.  Each of these individuals inspired others to reach for something better, something higher – to reach beyond what they thought was possible.

In the case of Houdini, who could not be confined and could seemingly escape from anything, it was the idea there was a solution to any problem, the ability to transcend any seemingly inescapable situation one found oneself in.  In this sense, he served as a symbol of hope for those who struggled with adversity. For Kubrick, it was a boldness, a striking photographic symmetry, and perfection in craft, a tremendous intelligence, and profundity in the subject matter and execution of his films.  For Szell, it was a level of precision and playing in orchestral performance that had been heretofore unachieved. When Szell died esteemed conductor Herbert von Karajan lamented that the world had lost “a master in the search for perfection in music.”

None of the three individuals were easy to work with.  They could be frustratingly difficult, meticulous, demanding, and they were not without human faults,-huge faults like everyone else.  Yet they commanded loyalty, respect, and dedication from those who worked under them and gave their all.  They inspired devotion from the singleness of their aim in serving their art.  They weren’t afraid to be different.  Love expressed as art ennobles us all. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson.  And Deepak Chopra noted that “If you focus on success, you’ll have stress.  But if you pursue excellence, success is guaranteed.”

The pursuit of excellence reminds me that the original and correct definition of sin is not one of moral judgment.  Sin is an archery term meaning to miss the mark, to miss the target.  The first time we use a bow and arrow and aim an arrow at a target, we may not only fail to strike a bullseye, we may miss the target altogether.  But with practice, our skill increases, and finally we are able to hit the target expertly.

There is a reason that success is guaranteed when we pursue excellence.  Excellence is related to the very nature of our soul.  When we seek to improve our aim, when we reach for something better, when we reach for something higher, our aim aligns with soul.  The target we are seeking to bullseye is connection with our own soul.  When we achieve this, and we achieve it, if even momentarily every time we truly desire it, we operate from a field of infinite possibilities that divine assistance can inform.  We operate from the level of who we truly are.

The coming Age, the time that is slowly beginning to unfold even now, will find more and more and more people responsive to and operating from this deep, universal, and divine level.  The result will be a world which does not suffer from constantly missing the mark but from a level of community, people working together and a love that expands beyond the narrow, attached, exclusionary, selfish and demanding interests of the few, to that which allows a true freedom and inclusiveness, enrichment, and upliftment of all.  In this new world, we each have an important part to play.

For our May Focus, may we see people everywhere responding to the soul impulse that is unfolding the Aquarian Age resulting in divine help manifesting where most needed, assisting all those working toward the creation of a better world for all humanity.