DISTURBING THE PEACE

DISTURBING THE PEACE 

Let's start off this topic with the etymology (word origin) of the word "disturbance." It has several definitions: "mental distress, disruption of peace or unity, to stop or hinder, to throw into disorder, to frighten, and to stir up and agitate." 

And as for the word "peace." It also has several meanings. "reconcilliation, silence, absence of war, safety, welfare, prosperity, and quiet." 

There are multiple ways that people are able to "Disturb The Peace." Of course, one way is through municipal laws - making too much noise at late hours, causing fights and riots, etc. But I am much more concerned with disturbance of our Inner Peace. Because once we become a "peacemaker," then all else falls into place. 

In the New Testament Bible "Sermon On The Mount" quoting Jesus, he says "blessed are the peacemakers." A very important statement. Because we cannot force peace on anyone else. We can intercede and become peacekeepers between two countries, or neighbors, but they still may hate each other. All we do as peacekeepers is keep them at bay from attacking each other. But a "peaceMAKER" is one who has made peace within HIMSELF. Just as you cannot make two people love each other, you cannot make two people live in peace with each other. It simply cannot be accompished from the outside in ... it must go from the inside out. And it is a personal accomplishment.

There are numerous ways that disturing the peace inwardly can affect us. Opinions, noise, traffic, multiple conversations, ambience, loud music, abusive relationships, inner negative chatter, and an endless host of distractions aimed at disturbing our peace. If we cannot be at peace within, then we cannot be at peace without. As above, so below ... as within, so without, etc. We all must find ways to connect to the Divine realm of inner peace - even if it's just for 10 or 15 minutes a day. Whether it is centered prayer, meditation, contemplative prayer, or just sitting in the peaceful surroundings of nature. 

When we do this, we greatly minimize our base animal nature ... fight, flight, or freeze ... the same effect as stress. This involves he limbic system of the body. The part of the brain involved in our behavioural and emotional responses, especially when it comes to behaviours we need for survival The stress that affects our body in a stressful working environment, does the same things to our bodies as if we were running from a hungry bear. It is meant to be used for short bursts ... a means of protection from danger. But in most work environments, you are in that condition all day, and then you bring it home with you. 

All of us must find a way to stop "Disturbing The Peace" within, and find tranquility, balance, and joy at some point in our daily lives. The Kingdom of God is love, peace, and joy. It is imperative to our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. Remember, most illness and disease begins in Mind, before it manifests into form and makes your body sick. Go on a nature hike once in a while. Listen to a running stream. And ... stay thirsty for Truth ... but above all, do not allow you, or anyone else, to disturb the peace within.

Just a thought ... 

Justin Taylor, ORDM.

APOCALYPTIC TRUTH

APOCALYPTIC TRUTH 

Today, we visit the topic of unveiling that which is hidden. This is what Apocalypse means in Greek. It means "to reveal, disclose, to uncover that which has been concealed/hidden." The "Apocalypse" isn't the end of the world as is commonly believed, it is the beginning of the real world. The ascension of Truth, from underneath the cover of illusion. 

The "Apocalypse of John," or ... Book of Revelation, was what was revealed ... to John. It was credited as having been revealed to him from Jesus Christ. It has been said that the author was probably a Christian from Ephesus known as "John the Elder." According to the Book, this John was on the island of Patmos, not far from the coast of Asia Minor. In reality though, we do not clearly know historically who this "John" was for sure. But what we do know, is that this is a clear book of imagery, symbolism, and allegory. In it's latter English translation of apocalypse, it refers to "insight, vision, hallucination." 

The Bible itself tells us these stories are all mythical, with deeper meaning having never meant to be taken only as literal-historical events. They are symbolic stories that mean something else ... and the message is contained deep within the text. We have a tendency through misinterpretation to look at the box, instead of what's inside the box. The Bible, keeps the Truth away from those who will not enter within. This was specific in its design, to ensure the ancient Wisdom didn't fall into the wrong hands. 

In the Matrix movie Orpheus tells Neo "I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door, you're the one that has to walk through it." In the Bible NT Jesus is quoted as saying "Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

We have to seek what is hidden. We have to search to find the treasure. We have suffer to find the cure. Do you understand ... if it was in plain sight, it would be as wallpaper. No one would notice it. People would pay no attention to it. And those with ill intentions would use it against those with good hearted intentions. When we lose our key, we keep looking until we find it. The Bible gives us the map, esoterically, the KEY to finding the place where the Truth is hidden. 

There's an old story of a conversation among those with the power and knowledge of God. The inner circle, if you will. It was asked "where do we hide the Divinity of mankind so that man cannot find it?" One replied ... "at the top of the highest mountain, he'll never think to look there." Another replied "at the bottom of the ocean, for man would surely never look there." And yet another one suggested "among the deep forests, for man would not think to look there." The wisest of the sages contemplated deeply on their suggestions, and said "I know what we will do, let us hide the Divinity of mankind within him. He will surely never look there to find it." 

The Apocalyptic Truth that the Bible and all other ancient documents from Pagan Mystics, to Egyptian Hierophants, to Native American Shamans, to the furthest points of the four corners of the world all have acknowledged and taught among their initiates that God/Source Energy, creation, Divinity ... lies within mankind. Not without. This has always been a common denominator, no matter the origins.

This is the Revelation, the Apocalypse, the lifting of the veil, the REVEAL. At the story of the crucifixion, at the moment of Jesus giving up his Spirit, the Temple Veil was ripped in two. This was the alignment of man and Divine. The walls of Jericho had come down once again. The logic left brain and the imagination/God right brain are separated and joined by what is called the "corpus callosum." The medical community refers to it as "the veil." It is the ethernet fibers that connect both sides of our brain. limited Logic, meets unlimited Divine. THIS, is the Revelation/Apocalypse. And it happens every single day, within the inner being of mankind. 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.

SOUND OF THE VOID

SOUND OF THE VOID

This subject is going to take some deep thought and concentration on your part. It might get a bit confusing, but it will all fall together I promise you.

The illusion is powerful, but not total. If we were completely cut off from an awareness of what lies beyond, chances are we would be perfectly content. Think about that for just a moment. There would be no reason to question ourselves or our existence ... no drive to continuously experience more. No conscious concept of something beyond ... something MORE than just this.

But we are NOT cut off completely. That spark burns inside. A glimmer of the Infinite light from before Creation surrounds and permeates each person who walks this earth. This light is what gives us the profound sense that there is something else out there ... and in here. Only the something doesn’t always feel like an actual ... “something.” It often feels like .... “something missing” - more like a void. This was what I personally experienced during a major surgery that I had.

I was waiting in Pre-Op, 55 degrees in the room, covered in a sheet on a stainless steel gurney; and waiting for my surgeon ... who had been delayed. I got to lay there and listen to everyone else's legal rights be explained to them. Should they not survive through the procedure, etc. In those moments ... and as the isolation I was feeling began to grow ... I entered the VOID. I felt abandoned and helpless. At the mercy of “something.” I was then overcome with a feeling of aloneness ... or was it all-oneness? In the growing silence, and before the pre-op cocktail, I found and completely understood the essence of God/Source ... there ... in the VOID. The nothing ... that is something. The “Ayin,” the place of total beginning. Where emptiness, nothingness, and a place of what seemed the land of all that is not ... yet ... this is the place where limitless and boundless possibilities are formed. It's like the number Zero. It isn't “nothing,” it's a whole number with value. So ... is the void.

I began to think deeply about it this event ... since after I had completed the procedure, I had plenty of recovery and rehab time. I was in ICU, experiencing intense unimaginable pain for 15 days and nights. I kept thinking about this void. In some ways I imagined it as total abandonment from God/Source. Having just bailed and left me on my own to fend for myself and the others that had been trusted with my care. But then, this missing element in my Mind, began to go from left brain logic to right brain limitlessness possibilities ... and I understood that what hovers at the edge of our consciousness, threatening our comfortable sense of solidity, and bringing with it an essential longing for…. well, for something. Something more. Something more than this. Something great. 

This sensation of something missing is actually the glimmer of something that is there, but too vast and amazing to be perceived by our ordinary senses. But as physical beings in a physical world, we are not naturally inclined to relate to it in this esoteric way. In fact, the non-physical all too often makes us feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. So, instead of slowly allowing our eyes to adjust to this more subtle light, we choose to avoid the experience altogether, or seek to fill the void with physical things. Things that never amount to “enough" ... unless there's something deeper to experience in the process. 

The subtle awareness of the void pulls us relentlessly toward the next high, the next success, the more exciting relationship, the bigger, flashier toy. The feelings it triggers - like sadness, depression, anxiety or dissatisfaction – drive us to eat too much, drink too much, work too much, spend too much, need too much; in short, whatever it takes to avoid facing the threatening the lack of strength and solidarity of it all.

But, as uncomfortable and threatening as it can feel, if you are willing to face the discomfort, to stop running and to listen within, you can begin to explore the secret of the void, to expand your ability to see and hear things that lie outside your normal range. In that void ... in that uncomfortable place of darkness, is where you will find the light. This VOID is a place of limitless possibility ... unbounded creativity ... and the origin of all that is. THE SOURCE.

Like a beautiful dream whose impression lingers, like a song that stirs memories and feelings from long ago, like a perfume that lingers faintly in the air, the music of the void can stir forgotten memories and open your heart. It can speak to you of where you came from, where you are destined to go and who you are destined to be. Step out of your comfortable awareness, and venture beyond ... go to those places where you find to be uncomfortable. Face your fears ... and they will dissolve into the illusion that they really are.

Just a thought ...

Justin Taylor, ORDM. 

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.

WHAT BEING IGNORANT REALLY MEANS

What Being Ignorant Really Means

To begin, let's take a very close look at the meaning of the word "ignorant." A good place to start for clarity's sake, is to look it up in the dictionary:

ig·no·rant

ˈiɡnərənt/

adjective

1. lacking knowledge information, or awareness in general; or about something in particular, uneducated or unsophisticated.

- synonyms: uneducated, unknowledgeable, untaught, unschooled, untutored, untrained, illiterate, unlettered, unlearned, unread, uninformed, unenlightened, benighted, without knowledge of, unaware of, unconscious of, oblivious to, incognizant of, unfamiliar with, unacquainted with, uninformed about, ill-informed about, unenlightened about, unconversant with, inexperienced in/with, naive about.

So, now that we have a pretty good understanding of the word, we can conclude that it does not mean "stupid" as some folks may think it does. Stupid is as stupid does, however, ignorance can be defeated, by a personal transformation from UN-knowing ... to KNOWing. 

Anyone can become UN-ignorant. They can go from uneducated, to educated ... uninformed, to informed, unaware, to aware ... inexperienced, to experienced. In a much deeper esoteric sense, the concept of "sin" is based in ignorance. Thinking or acting upon wrong decisions based in lack of knowledge. 

"My people perish for lack of knowledge."

~Hosea 4:6 

You've heard the term "the dumbing down of America" and it is directly connected to not only our educational system needing a major overhaul, but also in the media programming aimed at keeping people enslaved to the system and it's agenda, rather than offering them personal freedom and spiritual empowerment. 

The Ancient Mystery Schools, thousands of years ago taught Truth, Philosophy, Medicine, Health, Spirituality, Astrology, Architecture, and numerous other subjects that eventually led to the building of major civilizations and their centers of advanced communities. Greece, Egypt, Rome, et al. There are things they accomplished back then that we can't even replicate today. 

There were no video games, Cable TV, iPods, DVD's, movies, CD's, or any other mind-numbing thought-killing paraphernalia back then. There was theatre, books and scrolls, and personal interaction. Conversations ... dialogue not monologue. People openly discussed the meaning of Life and all that was contained within it. We had Socrates, Plato, Aurelius, Pythagoras, Epicurus, and so many great minds back then. 

People beat their ignorance through the teachings of others. It wasn't just about a passing grade, or moving up ... it was about truly learning the lesson. The surface story, and the deeper Truths contained within. Myth was powerful. People told stories that held hidden meaning that had to be extracted through thought and discernment. This was the true meaning of "apocalypse" ... to unveil that which is hidden.

Superstition and lack of truthful and proper teachings and education on the part of churches, governments, and civil organizations has plunged our society into regression rather than progression. To move and advance the evolution and involution of mankind, we must start with the sincere removal of ignorance ... beginning with our children. 

We did not inherit this world from our ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children. Let's do all that we can to raise an educated and peaceful generation of leaders. A world filled with knowledge, compassion, love, understanding, and acceptance of all peoples everywhere. 

It is ignorance that leads to anger, violence, racism, religious persecution, and greed. Eradicate the ignorance ... and the world will change rapidly. We will raise the consciousness of mankind and build a better future for all creatures.

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 unbounded potentiality. No limitations. No restrictions. None at all. Boundless ... and you and I are co-creators of this infinite potential. And this Source of all that is, IS all that is. 

When you don’t need to be any particular something, you’re free to be anything. Kabbalah calls this infinite potential "nothingness" – not because there’s nothing (no-thing) 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. The storehouse for all things seen and unseen. 

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 full 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. As a human beings created in the image of the All There Is, you are also empowered to create something from nothing. And you do it, all the time. Thoughts, are things (thinks) and will manifest into physical reality every single time. Thoughts are energy and cannot be destroyed. Thoughts will manifest. 

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

These stories are continuously being recreated from nothing in each of our lives. They are programs we have installed over the years. 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 all-too-conscious of our illusory limitations, our disappointments, our frustrations, our unfulfilled needs, and the burdensome problems we need to solve. No wonder so many of us are worn out 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 ... for everything in it. 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.

WHEN THE TWO BECOME ONE

WHEN THE TWO BECOME ONE

There is a positive and a negative to everything. This Law is not about positive being "good" and negative being "bad," it is two opposite polarities of the same principle. For example, the electrical current in your house is called A/C for Alternating Current, and it has a positive side and a negative side. +/- if you will. There is also a "ground" or neutral. In linear Math, anything to the right of Zero is a positive number, and anything to the left of Zero is a negative number. Not good or bad, positive and negative. Zero being the perfect balance. Also, keep in mind that "zero" does not meaning "nothing." It is an actual number with an actual value. 

Now, with that clarification, let's look at the Nag Hammadi Library Book of Thomas for a moment:

"When you make the two one, and when you make the inside as the outside, and the outside as the inside, and the upper as the lower, and when you make the male and the female into a single one, so that the male is not male and the female not female, and when you make eyes in place of an eye, and a hand in place of a hand, and a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then shall you enter [the kingdom]."

~Jesus, Gospel of Thomas, Saying 22

This speaks directly to our purpose in using duality, to obtain singularity. To make the two, ONE. When we make the "inside as the outside and the outside as the inside" we are creating our reality. Our thoughts begin within, and they will manifest in form without. Thoughts are things, and what we constantly think about becomes our life reality. If are thinking "I am miserable" ... then so it becomes. You will remain miserable. If you were to think "I am enjoying a great day" ... then so it becomes. You will have a great day.

When we see the reference to male and female, this is not anatomical as in man/woman. This is the masculine and feminine principle within all of us and used for creating our reality (our child/offspring). When we are in alignment with both, when there is harmony, we bring forth the fruit of our thoughts and desires. When people get married, it is said in the service that the two become one. It is a complimentary relationship of two joined as one. 

This is alchemical, metaphysical, sexual/physical, emotional, and spiritual. The Wedding rings in antiquity represent the ring around Saturn whose was once worshipped as a god (Saturn-day/The Sabbath), and the ring also represents eternity. The never ending 360 degree circle.

This union of opposites began as singular duality. One, with two polarities. Like a scale, some goes on one side, some on the other until they balance and become harmonious with each other ... essentially becoming one again. A bird has two wings but it can't fly unless they become one in unison. We need two legs to walk but the principle is "walking." 

The point to all of this is that we need to experience polarities of one principle in order to learn and discern the Truth. We have to have good and bad, hot and cold, day and night, smooth and rough, up and down, etc. And there are ranges of each, but no actual point in which hot becomes cold. They are simply varying degrees of temperature. Both serve a purpose but are one principle. Our central nervous system is ONE ... yet it delivers both pleasure and pain. Pleasure and pain are both one thing ... feeling. And this can be emotional, physical, spiritual, etc. 

To our brain, the imagination and reality are equally accepted. The Mind knows not the difference between something you imagine, daydream, or dream about - versus anything experienced in your waking state of consciousness. In fact, the brain and body are more active and functional during sleep than during the times we are awake. Even while we are awake, more than 90% of our activities are coming from the sub/unconscious Mind. The aware conscious Mind is only active for less than 10% of our functions, and sometimes as little as 1%. This is staggering ... and also show how we operate from past learned habits, responses, and experiences than perceiving something as new and worthy of attention. Old programs versus new experiences. 

As the Book of Thomas stated, we must become as as above, so below. We must merge our ego-self and Higher-Self into one harmonious essence and when we do ... we ignite the Divine Spark of God/Source ... our Christ Consciousness. We truly become transformed. And more than just transformed, we have metamorphosis. We actually become "born again" a new being with no desire to do the "sinful" (error in thinking) things we  once did without even thinking about it at times. The word "sin" comes from the Greek word "hamartia" and simply means "missing the mark." It's an ancient Olympic Archery term for missing the bullseye. For us, the bullseye is Truth. Sin is when we are missing the Truth, and living an illusion. When you do these things, you will enter the Kingdom. The Kingdom is defined as "love, peace, and joy." I believe the world could certainly use more of that don't you?

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM.