MEANING OF THE WORD LIFE

MEANING OF THE WORD LIFE

What is the meaning and etymology of the word: "Life?" The answer to this question is almost five thousand years old and leads us to the Proto-Indo-European word "lip" meaning, "to remain, persevere, and continue." When this word was adopted into the English language as "lif" about 1500 years ago, it stayed true to its original meaning, but still closely resembled its Germanic predecessors meaning of "body."

Root Meaning of Life

Before we delve further into English, let's look back at the Greek word for "Life" which is translated in English as "ZOE." This is the root of the English words "zoo," "zoology," and even "zodiac." Zoe is used for the state of existing and being animate which is common to all living things. From early times, "ZOE" ( as a living soul) was adopted by Hellenized Hebrews as a translation of the Ancient Hebrew name/word translated into English as "EVE." 

Now, this word EVE is from the Hebrew name חַוָּה (Chawwah), which was derived from the Hebrew word חוה (chawah) meaning "to breathe" or the related word חיה (chayah) meaning "to live". I once had a white German Shepard that I named "Chaia" for the same reason. Hence, Eve is described as the "Mother of ALL living" when looking at the Biblical allegory of creation in the Book of Genesis. This statement makes perfect sense when understanding the meaning of the word, rather than being associated with a merely literal person. 

The New Testament Bible, which was originally penned in Greek before being translated, and uses the word "ZOE" 134 times as an indication of eternal Life ... the actual eternal Life-Force. "LIFE" ... therefore, is the force which animates all living things. This force is what many would call God, or Source Energy. 

Old English Use Of Life

Since Old English times, the word "Life" has meant: "the condition, quality, or fact of being a living organism." This includes the capacity for growth and development characterized by continued functional activity. It is natural then that from its very beginnings "Life" has been used as the opposite meaning of "death" (or the cessation of animate existence). The word Life also meant to describe the existence of an individual in respects of its physical duration, as in: "the period from birth to death, from birth to a particular time, or from a particular time to death." It becomes clearly evident that the meaning of the word "Life," has not changed much in over 1500 years of use.

Middle English Use Of Life

There were however added meanings that were attached to "Life" during the Middle English period. Life began to mean not only the living organism itself, but the causation or the source of living, as in: "the animating principle which keeps a thing alive." The natural extension to this meaning was that people began to believe that Life was a possession which was deprived by death - a meaning that can be constantly witnessed in many writings and the News Media.

From the mid 16th century, "Life" was used to describe the chance to live after a narrowly escaped death - this originated from the myth of cats having nine lives. From the late 16th century, the word began to mean the vitality embodied in an individual person who was very energetic and animated. From this later meaning the sport of cricket adopted the word to describe the quality in the pitch which causes the ball to rise abruptly or unevenly after pitching. From the early 18th century ‘Life’ included the activity and presence of living things as well.

Life Today

By the 19th century the term "lifer" or "Life sentence" was used for a number of different things ... sporting events, battery duration, a person who was imprisoned for the rest of his existence, and even the term "get a life" used for someone with not much to do but cause trouble. 

The bottom line is easily discerned as being descriptive of the force and Source of that which animates all living creatures. Even down to a cellular level. Remember, we raise a glass and toast to "LIFE" ... not yours or mine ... but LIFE itself. It is that which gives us consciousness, the very breath we take in and out with each moment. All that exists in this physical realm in which we are animated is powered by that same singular energy source, or Source Energy that all are dependent on for our very being. 

The New Testament Book of Acts scripture summed it up quite nicely in it's esoteric and metaphorical presentation:

" ... for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children."

~Acts 17:28

We are all a living part of this great single organism called the universe (You-niverse). We share all things in this Life. Down to the very breath within you and within me. We truly are ONE in this LIFE. There is ONE LIFE. We are collectively connected to all that is. 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

SEASONS OF LIFE

SEASONS OF LIFE 

Everything in the universe has the same plan. It is inescapable. Everything has a sunrise (birth/genesis), high noon (zenith/peak), sunset (beyond peak/downturn), and nightfall (death/darkness). Every cell, every organism, every creature, every rock ... there's no escaping it. 

In the same way, we have our seasons. Spring - new outlook, Summer - brighter days, Fall - start of the decline, and Winter - the end of the cycle, the cold and lifeless crops. In another view, in the spring the flowers begin to bloom, then comes the harvest and the warm days of summer, then things begin to fall into darkness ... cold temperatures, until the trees and plants die and await their resurrection. 

Our emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental Life experiences are exactly the same. Our Life cycle is as the sunrise, noon, sunset, and night. Our trials and tribulations are also as the seasons. Sometimes a bright and warm outlook or event, and sometimes a dark outlook or event. All is in flux. All is in a state of change. And all is in a cycle. This is important to remember as you deal with daily issues in Life.

We know that after the storm(s), comes a clearing, and then the Sun of God reappears to give Life to all that made it through the tempest(s). When we have a "bad" day, just simply KNOW there is a good day coming. It is immutable Law. It must be this way. The universe maintains balance in all that occurs. Sound waves, light waves, ocean waves, even roller coasters go up, and they go down. Ebb and flow, waves and particles. There is no straight line. However, you can master living your Life experience by being good when things are good, and by being good when things are not so good.

You can straighten the lines, curves, and waves; through your perception and your attitude. Instead of blind faith, live in the knowingness of the immutable Laws of the universe that are eternal. Cause and effect, vibration, frequency, polarity ... these Laws balance the scales of justice across the celestial kingdoms. 

We have the power of all the universe within us to perceive things as we wish, to create things as we wish, to adhere to the Laws, or to transgress them. We are literally here for a season in human terms. And we choose to make the best or the worst of things simply by how we think, and how we perceive reality. 

You know that feeling you have after a rough winter of snow, ice, lost productivity, and freezing temperatures ... and then spring begins to arrive? Then soon ... you're at the beach playing with family and friends enjoying the splendour of of it all, and the farthest thing from your Mind is the soon to be approaching cycle of Fall and Winter. STAY in THAT state of Mind. When winter days bring rain  in our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical lives ... keep that summer spirit alive.

Don't spend the chill time going UP the roller coaster, worrying about the thrill time coming DOWN the roller coaster. Enjoy them both ... knowing that in ALL things there are UP's and DOWN's. You job is to balance the flux. Just like balancing a pencil on your finger. Both sides must be equal to obtain proper balance. Right in the middle is where you must learn to stay. Balance your scales ... it can never be greater than the other in both directions. For as much "bad" as there may seem to be ... there is equally as much "good." Maintain a good attitude, and you will achieve harmony in your life and in others.

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS

When It Rains It Pours

You've heard the phrase "into each life some rain must fall," and "when it rains it pours," but we have always used them with negative implications. Why is that? Rain brings life. It waters the plants and trees which it turn grow and provide us with oxygen and food for sustenance. Of course there are extremes that cause damage to life and property, but this is the cycle of nature in order to progress and evolve. 

We also know that AFTER the storms, comes peace and tranquility. Sunshine and pleasant conditions. This is how everything in the universe operates, including us. There are always ups and downs ... like a roller coaster. Frequency waves, ocean waves, radio waves, all is energy and all is in flux. Changing and evolving. Day and night, hot and cold, good and bad. But there are no markers along the path of polarity. There isn't a place where good changes to bad and vise versa. They are equal polarities of one principle. 

So it is with our emotions, our health, our spirituality, our mental state. Up and down, rain and sun. We have to find that place of balance between the sunshine and the storms. That place where it's just lightly drizzling. We can handle the drizzle much better than extreme storms and extreme sunshine. The Rain Forest is a prime example of the perfect balance of nature. My wife and I visited Portland, Oregon years ago and it drizzled every day. Sometimes the sun would be shining with a light misty shower. Much easier and comfortable than blazing heat at the beach and freezing cold in the Poles. Same thing with wet and dry. We need both. 

In the Bible story of the Apostles being on a boat with Jesus asleep down below ... the storms are raging. The winds are extreme. The Apostles go down below inside the boat to wake up Jesus so that he can calm the storms outside. In the Inner Mysteries of scripture, the boats, and arks, and ships are us ... our vessels. This is a myth with a deeper message. During the times in our lives that the storms and tempests are raging, we are supposed to go within ... inside our boat ... inside ourselves and awaken the Christ. When we awaken the Christ consciousness within, we get guidance as to how to handle the storms and find a place of safety. The "eye of the storm" is always calm. We are to learn to stay in the eye calm and protected while the storms are raging around us wreaking havoc. This is the deeper meaning. 

So when the rain begins to fall in your life, when the light of the Sun of God/Source Energy hides behind the clouds, awaken the Christ within. Ask for Divine guidance and KNOW that better weather is coming. It must. It is Universal Law. When times are good, and the weather is wonderful, don't waste these good times worrying about the next storm. Don't spend the chill going UP the roller coaster, being scared about the thrill coming down the next drop. 

Your mind is a garden. You must plant the right seeds, remove the weeds, and water and care for your thoughts. The thoughts will bring forth a harvest. Mind your mind ... watch your garden and care for what you are growing. You also need to water your seeds. Here is the rain of life. We need rain to grow our crops. Thoughts are energy and they will manifest into form. Keep an umbrella handy, and your sunshades. You're gonna get both, no matter what. Make the best of the rain/pain, and the sun/fun. 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.

THE VAST NETWORK OF LIFE

THE VAST NETWORK OF LIFE

A lightbulb that is never lit, is not serving it's purpose. After all, when it is plugged-in to the Source of Power and not on ... it isn't doing it's job ... it's calling. It is dark and has no light. Connecting it to the source ... turning it on and putting it into service ... gives it Life. Otherwise, it is just there ... inert, inactive, and non-participatory. If it does not shine, it is darkness.  

It was recorded among the ancient Biblical scriptures: "you are the light of the world." Therefore, if you have Life, you have light. Your bulb is ON. With this light, you join the universal network of consciousness and Life ... connected directly to Source Energy. You are plugged in and that very fact proves you have purpose. 

When a light bulb burns out ... we say it is dead. It is the light that is it's purpose. The LIFE ... comes from within. Just as our Life comes from within. Each and every breath we take, is inspiration and expiration ... two polarities of one principle - breath - our life-force. We live and die in each one. We cannot breathe out, unless we first breathe in, and vice-versa. 

You are connected to the vast network of consciousness (the Field/Matrix) that moves the planets, births the stars, and shines the suns. All is energy ... even matter. You are a piece of the whole ... the holy. We are all One. Interconnected through Heaven (Spirit) and Earth (Matter) ... or Father and Mother. 

Each of us is a seed, birthed OUT of the Earth (our Mother/Matter - Mater is Latin for Mother) in the same way as a flower springs from the ground. I can go on and on but suffice it to say ... everything in this vast network of Life matters. Every plant, mineral, animal, and the entirety of mankind. We are tied to the winds, and the ground. Sharing every molecule, atom, and quark ... as a fish in the ocean ... we are as waves, eternal blended with all that is. 

There is no "other." What we do to/for someone else, we do to/for ourselves. Pay no attention to labels and creeds, beliefs and opinions. The Truth is that there is One Universe, One "God" (call it what you will), and that every "thing" is actually no-thing at all ... but a single oneness as a single universal organism. It can be no other way. 

"There is light within a man of light, and he lights up the whole world. If he does not shine, he is darkness ... If they say to you: Whence have you come?, say to them: We have come from the light, the place where the light came into being of itself. It established itself, and it revealed itself in their image. If they say to you: Who are you?, say: We are his sons, and we are the elect of the living Father."

~Gospel of Thomas

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

RUNNING ON EMPTY - WHICH TANK ARE YOU USING?

RUNNING ON EMPTY - WHICH TANK ARE YOU USING?

Each one of us has invisible fuel tanks. We're born with them. Emotional tanks, spiritual tanks, and physical tanks, all filled with potentiality. But what we don't realize, is that they are not refillable. We see this with our own aging and change of appearance. Our tank of youth runs lower and lower. A friend of mine, Forrest, once said when he was 94 ... "getting old is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end of the roll, the faster it goes." Wise words, from a wonderful man. 

We have a tendency to use our fuel inadequately. At times, using more than we should. For example, if you go to the gym and work out every day, you're drawing fuel from your physical reserves. If you're going to do this, then do only this. While you're working out, leave your mind at rest. Don't think about troubles at work, bills you have to pay, whether your prayers will be answered, how to make more money ... just use your physical reserves. Draw only from your physical fuel without also drawing from emotional, intellectual, instinctual, and spiritual reserves. You'll get pretty rotten fuel mileage. It would be like driving two or three SUVS at the same time when you can do with one.

The same process works for other events in your life. If you're going to draw from your spiritual tank, do it through meditation or contemplative prayer but do it in isolation. Either among nature, or in a quiet room or a setting with no distractions. Sometimes, you might want to take a walk. But spend your walk time just taking in nature. Looking at the trees, birds, flowers, lakes ... don't jet your mind wander to other stuff. Don't waste your thinking fuel, on walking energy. When you relax, then just relax. Don't mix your quiet, resting, downtime with energy reserved for logic, work, or study. Just chill. Go for a ride and empty your stress-based thoughts. Let your thoughts come and go. Don't label them or judge them. Don't worry or have concern. Just enjoy the moment. 

Listen to the signs that come from within you. If you're mentally tired, give the mind a break and get some extra sleep or a nap once in a while. If you push your body too hard at the gym and you have signs of pain, give it a rest for a couple of days. Be sure to take vacation time, and a 3 or 4 day weekend here and there. Do nothing, or do something. Make it YOUR time. 

And while you're at it ... lose the years of guilt and fear that have overburdened you, not just emotionally, but physically as well. It’s not YOURS, it’s an experience … YOU, are the Witness to these experiences, not the owner. So you ate a burger today, so you had a soft drink today, so you had a piece of chocolate. So what? We're animals. We can handle it. Just don't overburden the body's filtration systems. Soft drinks have no nutritional value, but once a week enjoy your soda. Stay away from GMO foods whenever possible. But by all means, listen to your body, and the voice within. Balance your activities evenly. Get enough of it all, but don't try and do it all at the same time. You'll burn too much fuel, and there is no way to refill what you arrived here with. Remember, you can't eat a pizza whole, but you can cut it into pieces, and eat it once piece at a time. 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

SHIP ON THE HORIZON AND LIFE TRANSITION

SHIP ON THE HORIZON AND LIFE TRANSITION

This chapter is inspired by a poem written by Bishop Charles Henry Brent(1862-1929) titled "The Sailing Ship." I ran across it while reading a fascinating book titled "conversations With Tom - An Adventure In After Death Communication" by Walda Woods.

The poem paints such a powerful portrait of the transition from this life, to the afterlife; and the next life.

 

"I am standing on the seashore.

A ship sails to the morning breeze and starts for the ocean.

She is an object - and I stand watching her

Till at last she fades from the horizon,

And someone at my side says, “She is gone!” Gone where?

Gone from my sight, that is all;

She is just as large in the masts, 

hull and spars as she was when I saw her,

And just as able to bear her load of living freight 

to its destination.

The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me, 

not in her;

And just at the moment when someone at my side says, 

"She is gone",

There are others who are watching her coming,

And other voices take up a glad shout,

"Here she comes" – and that ... is dying."

-Bishop Brent

So as we lose sight of the ship on the horizon, the ship remains with us. Where else would it go? To our perception, it grows smaller and smaller until it fades from view ... but this is only OUR perspective from where we stand. The ship remains the same size, with the same abilities, and the same purpose. We just can't see it anymore.

But on the other side of the horizon, people see it coming, not going. it grows larger and larger the closer it gets to their perspective and where THEY stand. When ultimately they see her directly in front of them, they see her true glory. 

This is such an amazing view of crossing over from one world to the next. From the seen to the unseen. From the observable to the unobservable. And WE ... as the Observer in life ... are witness to the experience. There are none who are lost. Where else would they go? We are all in One Universe, and all experiences that ever were and ever will be are already here in the present moment. In the NOW.

This is such a difficult process to accept, but consider in this way. You've "lost" your car keys. But you know they are here, somewhere, or else you would not search for them. They were misplaced, but they still exist. Where else would they go? If you have lost a loved one, they are not "lost," they have simply passed into another realm that is not in the same vibrating frequencies as we are. All matter is merely vibrating energy, and energy cannot be created, or destroyed. 

In closing, everything in reality is ONE thing. We are all a piece of the entire essence of the Universe - God/Source Energy. We are all connected through the Matrix of consciousness. We are as much a part of the invisible air as a fish is with water. If you believe yourself to be separate, you’re captive by illusion, rather than free with Truth. All that ever was … is right here and right now. In this present moment. This is where Life inspires, and expires, with every breath we take.

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

WHAT EXACTLY IS NOTHINGNESS?

WHAT EXACTLY IS NOTHINGNESS?

God/Source Energy creates from nothing because nothingness, “ayin” in Hebrew, actually means absolute, infinite possibility and potentiality. No limitations. No restrictions. None at all. Boundless ... and you and I are co-creators of this infinite potential.

When you don’t need to be any particular something, you’re free to be anything. Kabbalah calls this infinite potential “nothingness,” but not because there’s nothing there, but because there are absolutely no limitations that define or restrict this infinite possibility in any way. It is the place where all potential begins. 

Remember as we talk on this subject, think of the number Zero. It is a whole entire number ... it is something ... not nothing as is assumed. Just like Infinity is also a number. In fact, most everything in the digital world operates on zero's and one's. Zero, does not mean nothing. It stores the potentiality of numbers just like all the rest. 

You’re Already Creating Something from Nothing, and as human beings created in the image of God/The All), you are also empowered to do so. And you do, all the time. Thoughts, are things (thinks) and will manifest into physical reality every single time. Thoughts are energy and cannot be destroyed. Nothing means: “no-thing” ... from the unsee, to the seen. From thought, to manifestation in form.

Unfortunately, most of the time what we create from nothing are the stories about what we can’t do, aren’t capable of, and will never have ... together with all the reasons why. This is ego blocking our natural Spirit-led default program of abundance and unlimited potentiality. 

These stories are continuously being recreated from nothing in each of our lives. But unlike Source Energy, who creates consciously, we create this reality unconsciously. It’s a sort of default programming. Yes, I understand that you have reasons for what you believe, but those reasons, while they may help to explain your past, do not have the power to limit your future. Unless you think they do, and act accordingly.

Most of us don’t wake up in the morning in awe of our own potential, in touch with our Divine purpose, filled with the joy of life, ready to create. More often we wake up conscious of our limitations, our disappointments, our frustrations, our unfulfilled needs, and the burdensome problems we need to solve. No wonder so many of us are exhausted, before we even get out of bed.

Change your perception and the way you think, and you will change your reality. When everyone understands the power of this ancient Truth, the world will become a better place. We will be able to create love, compassion, understanding, peace, and tranquility for all creatures. Mind the gate of your Mind ... you are the Watchman, you are the Observer, and you ... are the Creator.

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

LIGHT OF LIFE

LIGHT OF LIFE

When a light bulb burns out, we say that it is “dead.” It becomes inert … lifeless. But the Source of life … light … is endless energy. The filament in the light bulb receives the light, yet when it no longer is able to receive the light … it is considered to be dead. But the Source of that light, the very light itself, is unaffected. 

This is the same for you, and for me. Our bodies receive the light … the light of consciousness … and we live our Life powered by the Source of Life itself. When the body dies, the light of our consciousness lives on. In fact, since energy cannot be created or destroyed, the light that is the true us ... is eternal in nature. 

Our thoughts, our soul, our true Self is the power source that provides light so that we may live. When the light goes out, leaves the body, we leave behind the inert (dead) physical body, but our consciousness never skips a beat.

Just like the light bulb, we are enclosed in an physical environment that allows our presence to be seen from the inside out. The Source of all light, life, and energy … is One. For many, this One is God, or Source. The Absolute. 

When we come to the understanding that all is One, and One is all there is … then we begin to understand that what we do to others, we do to ourselves. We are the aperture for which the Universe is experiencing itself through us … with us … AS US. 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.

STUDY OF THE WORD LIFE

STUDY OF THE WORD LIFE

What is the meaning and etymology of the word: “Life?” The answer to this question is almost five thousand years old and leads us to the Proto-Indo-European word “lip” meaning, “to remain, persevere, and continue.” When this word was adopted into the English language as “lif” about 1500 years ago, it stayed true to its original meaning but still closely resembled its Germanic predecessors meaning of “body.”

Root Meaning of Life

Before we delve further into the English, let's look at the Greek word for “life” which is translated in English as “Zoe.” This is the root of the English words “zoo, zoology, and even “Zodiac." Zoe is used for the state of existing and being animate which is common to all living things. From early times, “Zoe” (living soul) was adopted by Hellenized Hebrews as a translation of the Ancient Hebrew name/word translated into English as “Eve.” 

This word EVE is from the Hebrew name חַוָּה (Chawwah), which was derived from the Hebrew word חוה (chawah) meaning “to breathe” or the related word חיה (chayah) meaning “to live.” I once had a white German Shepard that I named “Chaia” for the same reason. Knowing this, we can see why Eve is described as the “Mother of ALL living” when looking at the Biblical allegory of creation in the Book of Genesis. This statement makes perfect sense when understanding the meaning of the word and it’s symbolism, rather than being associated only with a literal person. 

The New Testament Bible, which was originally penned in Greek before being translated, and uses the word “Zoe” 134 times as an indication of eternal life ... the actual eternal life-force. “LIFE” ... therefore, is the force which animates ALL living things. This force is what many would call God, or Source Energy. 

Old English Use Of Life

Since Old English times, the word “Life” has meant: “the condition, quality, or fact of being a living organism.” This includes the capacity for growth and development characterized by continued functional activity. It is natural then that from its very beginnings, “life” has been used as the opposite meaning of “death” (or the cessation of animate existence). The word Life also meant to describe the existence of an individual in respects of its physical duration: “the period from birth to death, from birth to a particular time, or from a particular time to death.” It becomes clearly evident that the meaning of the word “life,” has not changed much, in over 1500 years of use.

Middle English Use Of Life

There were however added meanings that were attached to “Life” during the Middle English period. Life began to mean not only the living organism itself, but the cause or the Source of living, as in: “the animating principle which keeps a thing alive.” The natural extension to this meaning was that people began to believe that Life was a possession which was deprived by death - a meaning that can be constantly witnessed in the media.

From the mid 16th century “Life” was used to describe the chance to live after a narrowly escaped death - this originated from the myth of cats having nine lives. From the late 16th century the word began to mean the vitality embodied in an individual person who was very energetic and animated. From this later meaning the sport of cricket adopted the word to describe the quality in the pitch which causes the ball to rise abruptly or unevenly after pitching. From the early 18th century “Life” included the activity and presence of living things as well.

Life Today

By the 19th century the term “lifer” or “life sentence” was used for a number of different things ... sporting events, battery duration, a person who was imprisoned for the rest of his existence, and even the term “get a life” used for someone with not much to focus on and as a result, at times just cause trouble. 

The bottom line is easily discerned as being descriptive of the force and Source of that which animates living creatures. Even down to a cellular level. Remember, we raise a glass and toast “LIFE” ... not yours or mine ... but LIFE itself. It is that which gives us consciousness, the very breath we take in and out with each moment. All that exists in this physical realm in which we are animated, is powered by that energy source, or Source Energy that all is dependent on for our very being. 

The New Testament Book of Acts scripture summed it up quite nicely in it's esoteric and metaphorical presentation:

" ... for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’”

~Acts 17:28

We are ALL a living part of this great organism called the Universe. We share all things in this Life. Not just Mother Earth and all her natural resources, but the very breath within you and within me. We truly are ONE in this LIFE. 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.

WATER AND GOD SOURCE

WATER AND GOD/SOURCE

If you were to take a bottle of water from the store and trace it backwards to its origins, it would go something like this. Store, carton, truck, warehouse, bottling plant, stream/rivers/lakes/well/reservoir, clouds, and all the way back to the very origins of the universe. This is all part of a process called The Water Cycle. All water is derived to one source ... One Source.

Water in oceans, rivers, ponds and lakes is heated by the sun, which turns it into water vapor, (basically invisible water) and this vapor forms a cloud in the sky. When a cloud gets so full of water that it can't hold anymore, it rains. The rain water travels back into our rivers and oceans, and soaks down deep into the ground, creating more groundwater. It's an endless cycle ... and all life bases life itself, on the sun and water. 

Now, further consider mankind specifically. We are born out of a material world of form/matter, and prior to this physical birth, was the birth canal. Then the womb, the umbilical cord, the egg/seed, our parents, their parents and so forth all the way back to the very origins of the Universe. This is all part of a process called The Life Cycle. All life is connected to one source ... One Source ... And will always be ONE. 

In fact, At the time you are born, the percentage of your body made up of water is about 78%. As you age, it drops to about 60%. This still means that we are made of mostly water. According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%.

To break this down into the point I am making is that in it's most basic form, there exists ONE Source, or Point of Origin, which for the sake of unity, I label as “God.” And Mankind is the offspring or “Sons and Daughters” of that God. That's all there is to it, in a nutshell. The essence of the Creative Archetype is in ALL of us just like water is in ALL water ... as the essence of the ocean is in every droplet of water removed from it. 

That is NOT to say that Man is God, but rather, that God is Man. God is everything, and since ALL THINGS (thinks) begin as thought (Spirit/energy) before they are manifest into form/matter, or become the result of cause and effect, everything that exists ... exists WITHIN the Mind of God. And yes ... all world religions accepted this at the very core of their ancient Wisdom. 

All are One, and one is ALL. The Universe is one gigantic living organism and you are it. You're not in it, or a part of it, you ARE IT. Inseparable. Everything is ONE. If you can grasp this ... it would change your life and the life of everyone in this world of ours. It is only our ego that believes us to be a separate creature or entity. There is ONE Spirit, ONE body, ONE mind, and ONE humanity. Stop the circus long enough to think about this. I promise you, when you tear down the walls separation, and rip the veil of fear and unknowingness ... you too will come to the same conclusion. Your Spirit already knows, and it's waiting for you to RE-member.  

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

DEEPER LOOK AT THE LIGHT OF LIFE

DEEPER LOOK AT THE LIGHT OF LIFE

“No one has ascended into heaven but he who has descended from heaven, the Son of man.”

-John 3:13

In the outer interpretation (exoteric and literal), according to most leaders and followers of modern day Christianity … the “Son of man” ... is Jesus.

According to this modern Christian interpretation, Jesus came down from Heaven, was born into a human body, and only HE can ascend back up into heaven. Jesus is a Divine being, not like the rest of us mere mortals. We certainly cannot do what Jesus has done right? And yet, in the New Testament he is quoted as saying “you will do greater things than I.” How do we rectify this?

In some of these outer/exoteric/literal interpretations, Jesus is actually God, not just the Son of God. We are considered to be lowly sinners, forever enslaved by Original Sin, and can never be what Jesus was.

In the inner interpretation (esoteric), the “Son of man” is the Spirit within, specifically, the awakened Spirit within.

Among the ancient traditions, there are TWO aspects of God; a masculine, and a feminine. The feminine aspect is referred to as Sophia, meaning Wisdom, the creative aspect, also referring to the emotional aspect of God, which is unconditional love. The masculine aspect, refers to knowledge and knowing (gnosis).

When the feminine and masculine aspect of God combine, a third component is created; the pure white light ... the anointing, Christ (the child/offspring). This pure white light is the living light of Spirit (Christ Consciousness), the very same Spirit within every living thing. This living light of Spirit is the SOURCE of our personal Life.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

-Matthew 5:14

“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

-John 9:5

“You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”

-Psalm 18:28

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

-John 8:12

“Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”

-John 12:36

“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,your body also is full of darkness.”

-Luke 11:34

What is born of Spirit, IS Spirit. We are ALL born of God/Source. The Spirit within us is the very substance of God/Source Energy, and as such, cannot die or be destroyed. Our Life-force Energy will leave behind the body. We have eternal Life because the Spirit within us IS the substance of God, which also has eternal Life. It is a function of what we are. Jesus was quoted as asking us to “follow him,” NOT worship him. He expected us to do the things he did, and to become like him.

John 14:12

“Timeless truth, I tell you: whoever believes in me, those works which I have done he will also do, and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to the presence of my Father.”

And I close with this quote from the the Book of John:

“... because as HE is, so are WE in this world.”

-1 John 4:17

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.

MATCH FLAME

MATCH FLAME

If we were to strike a match, fire will germinate. Scientists say that fire is the result of combustion, but this is a weak explanation when presented in a metaphysical sense. The fire that germinates from the match ... is contained WITHIN the match. Only when we strike the match do we free it from imprisonment, and the flame appears. We can say then, that fire in itself, is not the result of combustion, but rather, combustion is the result of the fire. 

You see, Life unfolds itself from instant to instant, moment to moment; "The Christ" is the sacred fire, the cosmic, sacred fire. The hand that strikes the match so that the flame appears has fire, life, otherwise it would not be able to move. After the match “dies off,” the flame continues to exist ... in the realm of the unseen. The fire always was, always is, and always will be.

Energy can appear and disappear in the same way you light a match. When you light the match, the flame emerges seemingly from nowhere, we think, but in reality that light comes from liberated atoms in the matchstick. That flame will only burn as long as there is energy there. When that energy is exhausted, that flame is exhausted. It becomes inert ... inactive ... but still within the realm of the Universe.

In this same way, WE do not come INTO the world (matter), we come OUT of it. Just as a leaf comes out of a branch, and the branch out of the tree, and the tree from the seed. Contained within the seed, is not merely one tree, but an entire orchard. The Earth populates itself in the same way. For example, as the ocean "waves," the Universe "peoples."

Mother Earth recycles everything. The whole of Life is cyclical. Energy never dies. It was Einstein (E=mc2) who proved matter, is energy at its lowest point of vibration. 

“Concerning matter, we have been all wrong. What we have called matter is energy, whose vibration has been so lowered as to be perceptible to the senses. There is no matter.”

~Albert Einstein 

Everything has its ups and downs. Vibrational waves that travel above and below ... and within consciousness ... there is also this undulation. What we see as physical death, is merely an undulation of consciousness. We never really die, and we were never really born ... we always were and always will be. 

The Philosopher Alan Watts so eloquently asked:

“Try to imagine what it will be like to go to sleep and never wake up. Now, try to imagine what it was like to wake up having never gone to sleep.”

Every individual is an expression of the entire realm of nature. There are no “things” ... there is but One thing. This thing, is all there IS. It is the I AM ... the Being of Life ... God, Presence, Life, Absolute, Origin, and any other label you wish to use. With each and every breath we take, we live and die as one single organism ... the Universe as a whole. Inspiration, and expiration ... breath on, breath off. 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

SEASONS OF LIFE

SEASONS OF LIFE

Everything in the universe has the same plan. It is inescapable. Everything has a sunrise (birth/genesis), high noon (zenith/peak), sunset (beyond peak/downturn), and nightfall (death/darkness). Every cell, every organism, every creature, every rock ... there's no escaping it. 

In this same way, we have OUR seasons. Spring - new outlook, Summer - brighter days, Fall - start of the decline, and Winter - the end of the cycle, the cold and lifeless crops. In another view, in the spring the flowers begin to bloom, then comes the harvest and the warm days of summer, then things begin to fall into darkness once again ... cold temperatures, until the trees and plants die. 

Our emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental life experiences are exactly the same. Our life cycle is as the sunrise, noon, sunset, and night. Our trials and tribulations are also as the seasons. Sometimes a bright and warm outlook or event, and sometimes a dark, outlook or event. All is in flux. All is in a state of change. And all is in a cycle. This is important to remember as you deal with daily issues in your Life.

We know that after the storm(s), comes a clearing, and then the “Sun of God” reappears in the sky to give life to all that made it through the tempest(s). When we have a "bad" day, just simply KNOW there is a good day coming. It is immutable Law. It MUST be this way. The Universe maintains balance in all that occurs. Sound waves, light waves, ocean waves, even roller coasters go up, and they come down. There is no straight line. However, you can master living your life being good when things are good, and being good when things are not good.

You can straighten the line that curves and waves through your perception and your attitude. Instead of blind faith, live in the knowingness of the immutable Laws of the Universe that are eternal Laws. Cause and effect, vibration, frequency, polarity ... these Laws balance the scales of justice across the celestial kingdoms. 

We have the power of all the Universe (YOUniverse) within us to perceive things as we wish, to create things as we wish, to adhere to the Laws, or to transgress them. We are literally here for a season in human terms. And we choose to make the best or the worst of things simply by how we think, and how we perceive reality. 

You know that feeling you have after a rough winter of snow, ice, lost productivity, and freezing temperatures ... and then spring begins to arrive? Then soon ... you're at the beach playing with family and friends enjoying the splendour of of it all and the farthest thing from your mind is the soon to be approaching cycle of Fall and Winter. STAY in THAT state of mind. When Winter days bring rain  in our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical lives ... keep that summer spirit alive! 

Don't spend the chill time going UP the roller coaster, worrying about the thrill time coming DOWN the roller coaster. Enjoy them both ... knowing that in ALL things there are UP's and DOWN's.  Waves and particles. You job is to balance the flux. Just like balancing a pencil on your finger. Both sides must be in equal balance, to obtain the proper balance. Right in the middle is where you must learn to stay. Balance your scales ... it can never be greater than the other in both directions. It’s like a pendulum. For as much "bad" as there may seem to be ... there is equally as much "good." Maintain a good attitude, and you will achieve harmony in your Life, and in others.

Jut a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.

PER-SO-NA

PER·SO·NA 

(Latin | Noun) pərˈsōnə

“the aspect of someone's character that is presented to or perceived by others ... a role or character adopted by an author or an actor.”

This is the root of the English word PERSON. Your EGO mask. This world is a cosmic play, and you are the Actor.

Who you THINK you are is the sum total of all you have experienced ... yet, you are NOT your experiences. Your true Self is the Witness to all of this. The Observer. The inner Self who is the Watcher. You are not the experience, you are the Experiencer.

Do not take ownership of what you have been through. These experiences are your teachers. They are NOT you. Learn from these experiences and move forward. 

The moment you realize this Truth, you will be free. Free to live your life without fear or guilt. Free from the things that keep you stuck in the past and worried about the future. 

“You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” 

-John 8:32

There is only NOW. The past, has passed. The future, has yet to be created. All there is ... is NOW. The present moment. Enjoy it, learn from it, and simply observe it. Do not judge it, do not label it ... just live it and observe it as you would the birds in the sky, a sailboat in the distance, or a bubbling stream in the forest. 

Take off the MASK ... the persona ... and let the real you deep within come to the surface and become One with all that is. The Spirit of Life who many call God, is experiencing life through you, with you, and as you. You are the aperture in which the Universe experiences itself. 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.

RUNNING ON EMPTY - TANKS OF LIFE

RUNNING ON EMPTY - TANKS OF LIFE

Each one of us has invisible fuel tanks. We're born with them. EMOTIONAL tanks, SPIRITUAL tanks, and PHYSICAL tanks, all of them filled with potentiality. But what we don't realize, is that they are NOT refillable. We see this with our own aging and change of appearance. Our tank of youth runs lower and lower. A friend of mine, Forrest, once said when he was 94 ... “getting old is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end of the roll, the faster it goes.” Wise words, from a wonderful man. 

We have a tendency to use our fuel inadequately. At times, using more than we should. For example, if you go to the gym and work out every day, you're drawing fuel from your physical reserves. If you're going to do this, then do ONLY this. While you're working out, leave your Mind at rest. Don't think about troubles at work, bills you have to pay, whether your prayers will be answered, how to make more money ... just use your physical reserves. Draw only from your physical fuel without also drawing from emotional, intellectual, instinctual, and spiritual reserves. You'll get pretty rotten fuel mileage. It would be like driving two or three SUVS at the same time when you can do with one.

The same process works for other events in your Life. If you're going to draw from your spiritual tank, do it through meditation or contemplative prayer but do it in isolation. Either among nature, or in a quiet room or setting with no distractions. Sometimes, you might want to take a walk. But spend your walking time just taking in nature. Look closely at the trees, birds, flowers, lakes ... don't let your Mind wander to other stuff. Don't waste your thinking fuel, on walking energy. When you relax, then just relax. Don't mix your quiet, resting, downtime with energy reserved for logic, work, or study. Just chill. Go for a ride and empty the stress based thoughts. Let those thoughts come and go. Don't label them or judge them. Don't worry or have concern. Just enjoy the moment. 

Listen to the signs that come from within you. If you're mentally tired, give the Mind a break and get some extra sleep, or take a nap once in a while. If you push your body too hard at the gym and you have signs of pain, give it a rest for a couple of days. Be sure to take vacation time, and a 3 or 4 day weekend here and there. Do nothing, or do something. Make it YOUR time. 

And while you're at it ... lose the years of guilt and fear that have overburdened you, not just emotionally, but physically as well. So you ate a burger today, so you had a soft drink today, so you had a piece of chocolate. So what? We're animals. We can handle it. Just don't overburden the body's filtration systems. Soft drinks have no nutritional value, but once a week or so, enjoy your soda. Stay away from GMO foods whenever possible ... go organic. But by all means, listen to your body, and the voice within. Balance your activities evenly. Get enough of it all, but don't try and do it all at the same time. You'll burn too much fuel, and there is no way to refill what you arrived here with. Remember, you can't eat a pizza whole, but you can cut it into pieces, and eat it once piece at a time. Life comes in bytes ... one at a time. 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.

ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE

ALL THE WORLDS A STAGE

There are over 38,000 known denominations of Christianity in the world operating today. Only one can be true ... if even that. All the denominations believe, within these collective church systems, that they have the "correct” doctrine. And all the other doctrines were false, or at the very least, they have less than the full Truth. And so, Christian logic applied, only those with this correct doctrine and dogmas, rituals, and practices, were considered to be “real Christians.”

Seven billion humans on the planet, and only a select few get to experience what they believe to be the actual Truth? The true Christianity that accurately represents from beginning, middle, and up to the Second Coming ... the Absolute Truth and nothing but the Truth. And among “fundamental Christianity” whose job they believe is to convert people over to Christianity, each denomination and non-denomination believes that THEY ALONE possess this correct doctrine and could save people from the eternal hell fire of punishment and damnation. Setting aside obvious cognitive dissonance, logic alone would tell you this is silly. But in belief systems, logic in not found in the deck of cards. 

Imagine if this was a lottery or raffle. What are the odds? And how few winners there would be. All this, from a God of Love, Forgiveness, and Grace ... never keeping track of wrongs, etc. 

But when you look deeper into the Ancient Mysteries that long pre-dated today's example of Christianity, and other religions, you find the Truth. You will discover something on a deeper level that says this can't make sense. This can't be right. It is simply illogical. And we are reasoning human beings. I'm not a person to sign-up for “blind faith.” For me, blind faith is simply believing in something that may or may not be true. I need to KNOW. Just like the ancient Gnostics (meaning knowing) ... I have to experience something and KNOW it to be real.

This goes against everything the church systems teach. Society and culture are all set up with inherent religious systems woven into the fabric of everything. For example, were it not for Christmas, the retail sales industry would plummet into a financial abyss. Yet, Christmas, was a pagan celestial celebration long before the advent of Christianity. It was the Winter Solstice, and a rebirth of the Sun to begin it's annual journey to bring about another warm season and a harvest ... therefore, the Sun of God was the sustainer of life.

After many years of questions, research; and study of deeper and more sophisticated ancient philosophies about reality and Life from civilizations that hid the Truth - protecting it from misuse - I finally began to be able to put together the massive puzzle. It was now starting to make clear and perfect logical and spiritual sense.

After years of study, inner reflection, meditation, contemplative prayer, and tons of research and analysis, I have come to the understanding that this universe that we live IN/WITHIN is not made up of individual things, but of ONE thing. And we are all an integral elemental essence of that One thing. As a fish becomes one with the water, we are one with ALL things - connected by the seen, and the unseen. What we can sense, and what we cannot. If you fill a glass half way with water, the decision as to whether it is half full or half empty is moot. The glass is always full. There is water yes, but there is also air, hydrogen, molecules, cells, energy, consciousness, oxygen, light, etc. Therefore, the glass is ALWAYS full. We just have no “sensual” perception of it since we are limited to travel within this vehicle called our body of matter. 

The truth is, on this Earth, we are not just one human being out of seven billion. We are Source/God/Life/Absolute itself, and this “God” is singular. The entire physical universe is taking place within the Divine Mind of this thing we call God, taking on countless forms, perceiving the world through each of those forms – each one focused on the perception of that one particular form, and blocking out all other perceptions. Its like watching 7 billion cable TV channels all at the same time and being able to perceive then all individually. We are the aperture from which the Universe experiences itself. 

Everything has consciousness. Even rocks under a microscope will show they are mitochondria based energy cells moving in circular motion constantly. Though they too, have consciousness, it is on a level limited to their being-ness. All the Universe is Life, One Life, one point of origin containing a spark of that origin throughout all things (thinks).

Mankind is just one particular type of form that God/Source/Awareness/Consciousness is using to experience the world. You, and I, are not just one human out of seven billion. We are ALL of them. I am you, and you are me. There is no “other.” Or rather, we are the collective Source/God that has taken on the mask of each human character. We are playing a role. In fact, the actual word “person” is derived from the Latin and literally means “the mask of an actor.”

The world is a stage and we write the story, play the parts, read the reviews, and even though it can be difficult at times, the show must go on. And now you know. 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.