The Love and My Path

An essay about my sister's death was recently published in The Love: of the Fifth Spiritual Paradigm by the Oracle Institute.

The essay was more difficult to write than I would have imagined before I first put pen to paper. The story begins with my introduction to a young squirrel clinging to the brick outside our back door just a few hours before we heard of my sister's death. I found it easier to begin the essay by talking about the baby squirrel we would come to call "Dalai."   You see, that little squirrel was a real comfort and blessing -- a gift from God during a difficult time. The events of that morning triggered a renewed search for understanding life and God which, ultimately, brought me to the Sophian path. I had always searched. Now, I felt my search being guided by spiritual forces familiar to me as Agape. I was reminded of a dream-vision I had at the age of 13 -- when I knew and felt the love of God more intensely than I have ever felt and known any love.

Then, now, and forever more this was Agape. The love that is beyond words or general human understanding. It was the name I gave to the Sophian circle I founded in Virginia.

When we know and feel God's love we leave less room for judgment of ourselves or others. There is less dualism. Less division. Less me. More us. I found all of this on the Sophian path.

By upholding the Sophian path I would seem to suggest all other paths are inferior. I do not. Everyone is called to a particular path, a path which he or she may not find in this lifetime, but a path nevertheless. I think the path we choose is a vehicle or divine spiritual means by which we find our way to reunification with God. So, while I don't want to disparage any particular spiritual path, I do want to encourage all to find a Way that resonates with his or her heart center.

Modern day spirituality is very much like a buffet of delectable delicacies from which many pick and choose depending on what suits their needs at a particular time. As a result, these individuals fail to find a path that challenges them to adhere to a structure by which Divine Grace may operate to fulfill their heart's desire. The spiritual path is the skillful means by which we find truth. It is a personal quest for gnosis but it's not going to happen by lack of self-discipline, by allowing yourself to be tempted by every morsel from that incredible modern day buffet. Indeed, it makes sense to adhere to the path that speaks to your heart, mind, and soul, but you don't want a path just made up of what you like best from the buffet without any real adherence to a structure that calls you to a genuine reunification with the Divine.

But choosing one path isn't as limiting as one might, at first, think.   The Sophian path has elements of both Eastern and Native American spiritualism, although it is primarily comprised of the mystical elements of the Christian and Jewish traditions. There is truth in to be found in every wisdom tradition, and it makes sense that a spiritual path would have elements of other mystical traditions. A blend of these paths into one is simply the skillful means by which I choose to practice.  There is no contradiction here.  

Once achieved, the Light Transmission provides the same unspeakable Gnosis for everyone, and the means by which we got to that point isn't important. Yet, we all need the discipline to get there.  So, I encourage each and every one to listen to what life is showing you because I think, in most cases, life may be calling you to a particular path through which you can experience Agape and know yourself in conjunction with the Divine I Am. Of course, many of us will spend years searching for that singular path before we see the Light... and that is okay, too. It will happen when we are ready.

May We Trust the Holy Spirit to Guide Us So That We May Find Our Peace and Our Place in the Divine I Am.

Amen.