Who or What is This "Satan?"

Who or What is This "Satan?"

There are a lot of people in our religious culture that are scared to death of this being that the Bible calls “satan the devil.” This "satan" has wreaked havoc in English translation scripture, and also in the lives of millions of people over the centuries. We are told to “resist the devil," yet, we are told “do not resist evil.” Where does this leave us?

Due to the fact that today, modern religions rely on only “literal and historical” interpretation of ancient scripture, satan is seen as a literal being hell-bent on destroying the children of God. But, the allegories, metaphors, and parables contained within the Bible stories were never intended to be taken literally. The entirety of it’s content is allegory. Hidden within the stories, is the deeper lesson.

In John 6:63 Jesus is quoted as saying “these words I speak are Spirit and they are life.” The Bible also states “the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God.” These writings are to be “spirutually discerned.” To be reading and interpreting them as literal, historical, and physical means “naturally.” 2 Corinthians reminds us “the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.”

God, Jesus, satan, are all personifications of something much deeper than the surface story. God is Love, Christ is Wisdom (Sophia) and Power, and satan represents the personification of fear, and the the opposition of the Will of God ... goodness and love.

2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us “For God has not given us the spirit of FEAR, but of POWER, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.” Spirit, is something that is within you. In the realm of the unseen. It can either assist you, or hinder you. Love, Power, and Fear are spirit. The spirit of fear cause us to think or act in certain ways. So does the Spirit of Wisdom, Love, and Power. But remember … “God casts out all fear.” In other words, on a deeper level … Love casts out Fear. God is Love, therefore, Love is God. And it is through the power and Wisdom of the indwelling Christ (within ALL) that this is accomplished.

Fear cannot cast out fear. Only that essence of God/Source Energy know as the Christ or the seed of Divine within all of us has the Power and Wisdom to do this. Therefore, satan has become a personification of fear, and fear can only be overcome dy Divine or Perfect Love, personified in the scriptures as God and Christ.

We can go all the way back to ancient Egypt and the story of Set, and all the way back to Greek Mythology, and beyond to find the exact same concept. The ego in our mind can wreak havoc on us, unless we let the Spirit within take charge and lead us down the path of Truth, rather than the path of ignorance. The New Testament quotes Jesus as having said to Peter: "get behind the, Satan." The esoteric lesson in this quote is to let the Divine lead, and the ego follow.

There is but ONE power in this Universe, and many call that Power, God. Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence leave no room for anything, or anyone but God. If you do not think scripture provides for this concept, then turn to Isaiah 45:7 for confirmation:

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."

So the Lord, God ... does it ALL. Good and evil ... everything. You may quote the book of Job to try and prove me incorrect. But just remember, even in Job (which is also allegorical) Satan worked FOR God, and under His Will. The story of Satan in the book of Job had to have the permission of God to do anything at all.  

In closing, this satan (ha-satan in Hebrew) is not a literal being operating out of the invisible realms, tormenting and torturing innocent souls with equal or greater power than God. Satan is merely the attribute in us (ego/opposition), that the Power of God/Source and Christ Consciousness also IN US, is able to cast out. LOVE … conquers all.

Just a thought …

~Justihn Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.

What Signs Have You Been Reading?

What Signs Have You Been Reading?

Everywhere we look today, whether on the road or off the road ... we see signs everywhere. But what if you couldn't read? What then? How can these signs help you in any way? They wouldn't, and couldn't. In order to KNOW what the sign is communicating to you, you have to learn to read, first.

Now let's use this example when looking at our own spirituality and the deeper essence of who we really are on the inside of this bodily vehicle we are using. If you don't know how to "read" the signs (intuitive guidance), then you don't KNOW what is communicating to you. 

Your journey Here is a spiritual destination. The journey is already in your GPS, but if you don't move from where you are, it simply won't be able to assist you ... Unless you just want someone else to drive for you. Which is the case with a great many people today. They would rather someone else do the work, do the research, the studies, the meditation ... And then just tell them what to do. This is the case with so many who are in churches on Sunday mornings. They show up for 2 hours, and let somebody else in the pulpit tell them how to live their life. 

This is not going to help you discover your true Self. The light-energy within your body. The Spirit of who you really are ... is projecting into this realm like a movie on the screen. The screen is a mirage. It isn't "real." It may seem real, but is is an illusion. The real you is the beam of light projecting from the back of the room. Sure, it's nice to watch the movie ... But it's somebody else's production. It's someone else's creation. You are here to make your OWN movie ... To create your OWN production and experience.

You know when you have that occasional talk with yourself? The inner dialog that banters back and forth ... Sometimes arguing, maybe trying to convince, and other times commending you? Who do you think you're talking to anyway? A dialog is a conversation. Otherwise, it's a monologue. Every word you THINK, every sound you SPEAK ... All begins in mind. Inside you. This is the throne of God. Your Temple ... Golgotha ... The place of the skull. Thoughts are things ... Energy becoming manifest into form. You are a co-creator in Life. Take the time to find our who/what it is inside your manifest form (body) that is creating and unfolding your Life experiences. You owe it to your Self. This is why you sent you here to begin with.

Remember, that which many would call God, is experiencing Life through YOU, with YOU, and AS YOU. The word "Universe" is defined as "all existing space and matter (Spirit and Earth) considered AS A WHOLE. There is no "other." All of existence is One Life of Light - One Organism) ... And countless rays of light projecting into the world. Take the time to find you REAL Self. 

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.

Here's Your Sign: After You Die You Will Meet God

Here's Your Sign: "After You Die You Will Meet God"

Recently I traveled from Florida to Virginia and back again in my RV. Over the course of 900 miles, one can see a lot of billboards along the south to north stretch of I-95. I don't remember many of them, but three in particular caught my eye. All three of them delivered the same message, black letters on a stark white background,  from the same organization: "After You Die You Will Meet God" and at the bottom was their website.  

Really? How arrogant and ignorant to place a billboard with this message without any further explanation or meaning. Let me take a few paragraphs and explain to you why I believe this to be such an ignorant statement. 

First of all, apparently the people behind it are assuming that they actually know the Truth. In fact, their website even includes the word "Truth." They believe the deception so deeply that they now want to pay money to offer their personal convoluted statement to all the travelers on I-95. But ... meeting God "AFTER" you die is nowhere even near to the Truth of who and what God/Source is and when you will interact with it. 

God ... or Source Energy, The All, The Almighty, The One, The I AM, etc. is evident in all of creation at this very moment. From the very breath we take, to the wonder of the universe and everything in it ... THIS is ALL what we have named "God." It is the mind and manifestation of all there is, was, and ever will be ... and all of us are an integral part of the collective entirety of One. God, is experiencing and manifesting through life itself ... with us, through us, and AS us ... NOW and ALWAYS ... Not after we die only.

The Matrix of universal consciousness interconnects every living cellular organism. While our bodies do die, that essence of who we really are ... does not. We are the life-force of energy within this vehicle or vessel of a body. It is our Ark. When the body returns to the Earth, from where it came, we return to collective Spirit, from where we came. And it is ALL ... right here. Another realm, another dimension ... But here and now. We are eternal energy having a temporary physical experience. Matter (Mother) is in fact energy at the lowest frequency of vibration. Nothing is solid, nothing is fixed. Study Quantum Physics for a bit and you will learn why. 

Next, there is no need to "meet God" because we ARE God. Yeah, I know ... BLASPHEMY! Get over it and listen up ... within us is the Divine Spark of the Source ... the Christ Consciousness that is the microcosm of the macrocosm. As above, so below. As within, so without. WE are made in the image of God/Source. Upon connecting with and realizing this Truth, you will understand that there is no "other." All life is interconnected and the universe is mental/mind. 

God is mind, manifesting creative desires in order to experience all there is to know. From the ground you stand on, to the air you breathe, to all of life being experienced by your sensory centers in your brain ... everything is electrical and magnetic energy being converted in your skull. Our entire life existence is experienced inside the darkness of our head. Between our "temples." This is the throne of the Divine and Golgotha ... the place of the skull. 

I could go on and on with this subject but in an effort to keep this article to a reasonable length, I will end with this counter-statement. Instead of "After You Die You Will Meet God" ... simply know that God exists all around you in every form your senses can experience. In many ways, God/Source Energy is all there is. It is the "I AM' that you are. I am ... THAT ... I am. Yeah ... that one. 

Just a thought ... 

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

Literal or Veiled Teachings

Are Scriptures Literal or Deeper Lessons?

Take a moment and ask yourself, "how is this any different than anything else that promotes hatred and violence?"

"of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end, you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him. but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. "

~Deuteronomy 13:7-9

Now, ask yourself WHY the religious scriptures of nearly 4 billion people worldwide promote violence? Rape, murder, mayhem ... without any regard to life whatsoever?

The answer is simple. The Truth contained within the stories is masked/veiled. These scriptures are allegorical and metaphorical. They are an outward representation of an inward teaching.

These scriptures were never meant to be historical or literal. Every civilization had their versions. Murdering evil is to destroy dark thoughts. Keeping virgins is to retain the creative principle of mind ... to bring forth the child of thought. Boats, arks, vessels are the body in which we are bound. Water and air is Life Source. Adam and Eve are all of us ... masculine (thought) and feminine (form).

Take the time to read BETWEEN the lines. It's what is being said BEHIND the stories that we are to use to ascend to a higher level of consciousness ... the Mind of the Divine ... to bring Heaven (thought/Spirit) on Earth (form/matter). THIS is "The Father" and "The Mother" ... Heaven and Earth ... thought and form/manifestation.

The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life!

Just a thought ...

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

What is The Hebrew Name For Jesus?

Jesus and Joshua are the same word. One is transliterated from the Greek/Latin, the other from Hebrew. It is more of a title than a name. "Jesus The Christ" is derived in English from many things.

First, know that the Hebrew word for GOD is symbolic. The Hebrew alphabet is also symbols. Each letter actually has a meaning beyond being just a letter. The letters are YHVH (in English) and this combination is called the Tetragrammaton (meaning 'four-letters' in Greek).

In Biblical times, all names had meanings. Hebrew linguists believe YHVH is a form of the verb havah, meaning "to be or become." A form of the "I AM" given to Moses.

So, YHVH ... (also represented as Yehuda, Yehovah, Ya, Yehoshua, Jehovah, etc.) is symbolic of God. By adding the Hebrew letter "S (shinn) we now have YHSVH which literally means "God Saves" or God is Saviour.

Therefore YHSVH (Yeshua, Joshua, Iesous, Jesus) literally means "God Is Saviour." The word Christ is Greek (Christos) meaning "anointed", derived from Greek χριω (chrio) "to anoint". This was a name applied to Jesus by early Greek-speaking Christians. It is a translation of the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (mashiyach), commonly spelled in English messiah, which also means "anointed."

Though somewhat complicated, the title/name of Jesus Christ has the meaning kind of like "the anointing of God saves."

The Old Testament story of Joshua and the New Testament story of Jesus are nearly identical it their message. Even the names are the same.  

Remember also that the English letter "J" was not developed until after the 1400's. Even in the original King James it is written as Iesus and Yoshua (Joshua) ... since the "I" and "Y" were used prior to the letter "J". Technically, the names Jesus and Joshua were never known until much later when the "J" was added to the English alphabet.

So ... the original question of "what is the Hebrew name for Jesus" can be summed up as "Joshua." But there is much more to the meaning than just words or names.

Stop Should-ing on People

Stop Should-ing On People

Today's post is dedicated to the memory of my friend and spiritual mentor, Rick Pinette. 

Why do we spend so much time should-ing on people? We should on ourselves and on others. "You shouldn't do this, and you should do that." Or, "I should've done this, and I shouldn't have done that? Stop should-ing, and start living. 

Every ancient society had their Wisdom and it always revealed the Divine spark within all humanity. Forgiveness, love, compassion ... are all human characteristics and will keep us all living in peace and harmony with each other when we practice them in unity.

Life is an experience, and in every experience We find a lesson hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be unveiled ... our own personal revelation. We learn through these experiences, good or bad, how better to improve our life and the lives of those around us.

It's such a waste of time to linger in past events. Learn your lessons and move forward. We can't keep being stuck in the negative emotions of what we shouldn't have said, or done. It's destructive and wears us down. We lose sight of forward motion and we lose the present moment, which is all we ever really have. Look back in reference but do not linger in regret.

Use what you've learned and apply it to your life. Choose the good, and use it to benefit all people and all things. Do not rehash your past thoughts and actions have been ... turn them around using the lessons you learned and simply BE. Live each moment is awe of the universe that unfolds before you each and every moment.

In reality, good and bad are opposite polarities of One spectrum. Everything just IS ... Do your best not to label it or judge it ... just take the lesson learned and rise above any negativity. From a Biblical perspective, the New Testament says:

"you shall love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the 1st commandment. The 2nd is this: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."

~Mark 12:30-31

This scripture is the summary of the whole of biblical scripture. Do this, and ALL of humanity will benefit. This God, is the power within. This is the Source of all that is ... The very breath that brings life. You may call this force whatever you choose, but the evidence of a life-force is undeniable. Begin within ... change begins inside ... in the realm of the unseen. 

When your last day comes upon you, it is best to be remembered by all the positive goodness that you did for others - through the lessons learned -  than for any negative experiences you had that helped you get to that point. 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

Literal or Veiled Teachings?

Are Scriptures Literal or Deeper Lessons?

Take a moment and ask yourself, "how is this any different than anything else that promotes hatred and violence?"

"of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end, you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him. but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. "

~Deuteronomy 13:7-9

Now, ask yourself WHY the religious scriptures of nearly 4 billion people worldwide promote violence? Rape, murder, mayhem ... without any regard to life whatsoever?

The answer is simple. The Truth contained within the stories is masked/veiled. These scriptures are allegorical and metaphorical. They are an outward representation of an inward teaching. 

These scriptures were never meant to be historical or literal. Every civilization had their versions. Murdering evil is to destroy dark thoughts. Keeping virgins is to retain the creative principle of mind ... to bring forth the child of thought. Boats, arks, vessels are the body in which we are bound. Water and air is Life Source. Adam and Eve are all of us ... masculine (thought) and feminine (form).

Take the time to read BETWEEN the lines. It's what is being said BEHIND the stories that we are to use to ascend to a higher level of consciousness ... the Mind of the Divine ... to bring Heaven (thought/Spirit) on Earth (form/matter). THIS is "The Father" and "The Mother" ... Heaven and Earth ... thought and form/manifestation. 

The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life!

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.