walking toward oneness

 The following are links to videos that Rachel produced from sermons and ideas that speak to living authentically and walking toward oneness.  "The path of the righteous is as the dawning light, that shlneth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18

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Debut of the Dragon-Line Project and Unitarian Church of Barnstable Sermon
"A Story" 2/26/2023
Unitarian Church of Barnstable Sermon "A Story" 2/26/2023
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Introduces the web-site Tools for Racial Justice and the Healing Racism Toolkit
Tools for Racial Justice and the Healing Racism Toolkit
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Part of the Whole: Healing a Broken and Fractured World and the Blessing of Stillness at this Critical Time -- Barnstable UU sermon 8/20/2020
Barnstable UU sermon 8/30/2020
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Kabbalah -- a meditation 2008
https://youtu.be/0Z0a9TGOmDM

A Story

Who are We?
Beyond our titles or what we do for a living; 
Beyond the kinship of parents, 
Beyond all names for our various identities, 
genders, religions, social status, 
Beyond our politics, disabilities 
(that everyone has in one way or another); 
Beyond oppression of race and others
Beyond our talents, accolades, successes or failures;  

Who are human beings?
some say spiritual beings having a human experience, 
Here and now we are living flesh, blood and bone 
No better or worse, 
then other animals on the planet 
or the plants —from the mighty oak to the lowly dandelion.
But all life is finite. 
We are here a very short time then dust,
No better or worse than rock. 
Then who are we?
We are a story.

Stories are also told by
woodlands and meadows,
mountains, bogs and beaches.
Stories are told of climbers who come and go, chattering 
like the rain
and the comings and goings of the glaciers 
The structures; stone walls, weirs, jetties and grave stones
The hunters and the hunted

Stories are told by the wind moving through branches
of the Maple tree sleeping its winter nap.
Story told as the wind whisperings 
trees unpronounceable name
Tree’s stories teach;
How to be beautiful and bend around objects
How to grow from rotten stumps or rocks 
They teach of a time to rest, a time to grow, 
the cycle of life. 

Stories are told by water
the stream’s songs moving over rocks, part of God’s laughter.
the water falls, then rises in mist
Water’s story in stillness reflecting the sky
up close each drop 
A reflection of reflection of reflection
all part of this whole 
contains everything, the flower, the rock 
those living and those called inanimate. 
all a fractal of Oneness.

Stories are told by rocks.
Stories that intertwines with every other
stone walls, jetties and streams 
solidly demonstrating
What is IS. 
from life to life, from atom to atom
Bound by electromagnetic and nuclear force
a strong attraction
A love story

It is all Love; Soul Love,
Story of truth,
real and immutable, 
surrounding each and every cell,
animate or inanimate,
like a mountain sparkling with mica.

Stories of fellow travelers; companions,
some for a short time,
some longer,
the chipmunk and the squirrel, 
the woodpecker, or owl, 
even the gnat, tick or biting fly,
They all have worth.

Stories connect
connection to connection
moment to moment, 
the story advances
One step follows the next
a journey, an adventure
a path of mystery

The story teaches; 
pay attention lest the trip 
is over an unseen root
or stuck in muckyness. 
Challenges develop muscle
our lessons give strength
and courage.
A story of healing,of growth
And deep gratitude.

The story continues
Beyond the pitfalls and lies,
Beyond the fair-weather friends.
Beyond the disappointments, painful revelations
Beyond personality,
betrayer and the treacherous.
Beyond trauma, fear, disrespect, 
exploitation, the horror of racism.
Beyond even the stories themselves.
Beyond the Beyond

A bigger story.
A story that isn’t unique to this telling.
From the beginning through to the end
moving in a beautiful circle, 
within and to that which is Eternal.

What are we?
Who are we?
We are a story
One story about everything 
Love
Beings of Love,
A love story of Light, of Peace.
Rachel Carey-Harper

A Mountain Dancing with Light — Mount Monadnock 2.0.21

There is a mountain that literally is dancing with light.  Light is in the rock and the stones because the entire mountain, from the tiny pebbles to the largest boulder, is infused with mica. The light is there in other ways as well. It is visible not only in the earth but in the bubbling water, in the sparks of a fire, even the shimmering briskness of the air.  

 

The mountain also brings stillness; a quiet without any car, with no manmade sounds, only the sound of the wind, the rustling leaves, the journey of the bubbling stream. I sit listening to the joy of the water’s song as it moves over the rocks wondering if it’s part of God’s laughter.  The water’s blessing was also apparent as I brought it to my face and eyes. The wind coming through the branches cooled my hot forehead.  I was infused with an awareness that we are all part of this whole that contains each of us, all living creatures and those we call inanimate. We are all a fractal of a whole. Beauty, peace, and a sense of connectedness saturated my Self-ness.  What is IS. It may take different forms, move from life to life from atom to atom. Love is that energy that connects us. It is all Love. Love is real and immutable. It surrounds and inhabits each and every cell of every thing whether animate like me or inanimate like the mountain. 

One of the tasks I had set for myself on this particular journey was to get clear, to reaffirm and stay true, and in tune with my life purpose moving forward. Yet instead of looking forward, memories from the past sparkled in my mind. I was taken to remember the first message I gave in a Friends Meeting. It was in 1962 at the worship group that would become Framingham Friends Meeting. I was 12 years old looking out over a spring garden where fruit and ornamental trees were blooming. It was a 3-word message; simply “God is Love”.  Over and over, this simple message repeats in my life. I became aware of how everything synthesizes down to Love. Love is that energy that from the beginning right through to the end moves in a beautiful circle, from, within and to that which is Eternal.  

The second full day in the forest, through the stillness I feel a familiar whispered leading. I sensed or heard the call, a desire for usefulness, to be of service. But what can the puny old mind and body do to be of use now?  Very strongly it came unto me that love means honing down to basic Truth that we are one, seeing the intense beauty that is everywhere; and that radiating love means feeling and broadcasting gratitude for all that is. It also is to not be so fixated on any particular end goal, that is not my business. I heard that being focused on getting to some future objective, even one as worthy as beloved community, means I can at times forget to appreciate the journey itself.  When you fixate on the hole, you miss the sense of being part of the whole, (holey-ness rather than holiness). 

In fact,  it is the journey that is really what it’s all about. It’s walking through the woods with perspective, not isolating on a fixed screen but instead seeing and appreciating the beauty. It’s feeling full of gratitude for where you are in that time in space. This is true whether the journey is working on racial justice or walking on a path at Mt. Monadnock; whether stepping through the sparkling rocks and bare-bones trees or whether working toward a better world from everyone. It’s about the journey. 

It’s about how we get there, what surrounds us moment to moment, and who are the companions walking with us.  Do we sense the moment and all present with gratitude?  One step follows the next step and paying attention lest I again trip over an unseen root or get stuck in muckiness that sucks off my shoe (or in metaphysical terms, wrenches a piece of my soul).  Pay attention to companions both seen and unseen, the chipmunk and the squirrel, the woodpecker, or owl, even the gnat or biting fly or the oak tree still sleeping from its winter nap. They all have worth and stories. Trees can teach a lot. They teach how to bend around objects and still be a beautiful life form. They teach how to grow out of the rotten stumps or rocks into a lovely tree.  They teach about there being a time to rest and a time to grow, they teach about the cycle of life.  

I was reminded to pay attention to the inner being.  Am I walking with a heart and mind full of love or full of anxiety?  The Light is all around and true gratitude means letting go of a fullness of sadness, the weight of lost friends, and failure. Perhaps sadness and failure are illusions that mask true reality which is never-ending, unconstrained Love and Light.  Such is the case with the sparkliest rock I saw. I took a picture of it but the photograph did not show its reality, it looked like any other nondescript plain rock; no sparkle, no light.  

The journey is about sitting by the seen or unseen bubbling stream, hearing the water sing with joy as it flows over the rocks, having the breeze touch us so gently, taking a sip of water and sensing the mystery.  

Lightness and Love; the cycle of birth, then growth and productivity, then death. Ultimately, Life is about the journey, walking a path of mystery and being a Being of Love, of healing, of peace of Light. 

                                                                                                                 Rachel Carey-Harper

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For another perspective: https://vimeo.com/208145716

For more of my writing on this sort of topic and on racial justice work visit: 

https://tools4racialjustice.net

 https://journeyofhealing.net

Experience with Living Waters

Oh God and God of our ancestors please
Open up our eyes that we may see your beauty and light
Open our ears to hear the wisdom of your voice that is beyond perception, perceived difference and ideology
Open our mouth to drink the living water that we might heal and be spiritually clean
Open our lips to declare your glory and open our minds to your Truth that transcends wrong and right
Open our hearts to your Love and our hands to the work for justice that you’ve explicitly given us
Open our feet to walk in your mercy and forgiveness
Open our arms to the adundance of Life
Open our lungs to breathe in and out deep gratitude for the blessings that surround us every minute of every day
Open our souls to join joyfully with your eternal oneness
And God if it is your will, open us up completely to your everlasting wholeness, your peace.
Rachel Carey Harper

It’s About LOVE

It’s About LOVE

Friends,
This time … —  it actually could be all about love.  
The 1st title of this message was "we need to come together". The second title was “ it’s the end of the world as we know it.”  But what if actually this time could have a purpose? Could it be all about a new, real, palpable way to manifest spiritual awakening, learning at our own individual pace to be ever present and lean into pure, potent, unambiguous, unconditional Love.  

Yes we need to come together. Everyone is saying this is a time to do something extra to care for each other and at the same time saying we must stay apart, keep our distance. Together and apart, it is a logical paradox on both the physical and spiritual level and one with profound implications for the oppressor and those oppressed. In a recent mid-night awakening I had an experience of this paradox. Profound love and gratitude engulfed me, not for anyone in particular and not for any thing or place. Peace and a sense of connection filled my mind and heart. While this experience is familiar to me and many, maybe most people experience it at one time or another; (as a child being in a warm sunny field brushing the the tall grass with the palm of one’s hand feeling time and space seems to stand still,) there was something different about this particular experience.  Everything that got in the way, all injustice disappeared and there was a newer depth, power and realness to this love, the truth of which gave it a different perspective, powerful enough to invoke tears. 

This experience seemed to relate to the following day's Talmud reading  “A threshold serves two domains: When the entrance is open, the threshold is subsumed within the house and it is considered to be a private domain like the inside of the house. And when the entrance is locked, the threshold is not subsumed within the house, and it is considered to be a public domain like the outside.” (Tractate Shabbat 9:A ) It felt as if a door that I hadn’t recognized suddenly became unlocked, that something profound is changing. Could it be a global personal systemic realignment? 

Then a feeling came like using a telescope where distant objects appear closer and magnified.  It felt like my individual soul was directly connected with particular people, not simply within the mass of Divine Light, or the amorphic soft feeling of togetherness but instead a sort of clairvoyance. It felt like we were really together in the same space sharing the same sense of profound love, an experience of that paradox of being together but also apart, feeling each other's heart and mind. Like we were meeting in this place that is devoid of injustice, so full of love, so full of gratitude, so full of depth and light and strong joy;  more fun than the ultimate, best amusement park, like souls cuddling together. 

The 1st person I experienced the usual sort of feeling of psychic connection was throughout my childhood with my brother. As we were often separated, often for months at a time, we had an uncanny way of knowing, feeling each others presence across the great divide of space. As an adult this manifested in something many people experience, thoughts and feelings precipitate a phone call where both share that they were just thinking of each other. Even though he’s been dead for almost 20 years, the connection to him and others who have passed on can still happen upon occasion and I wonder if it’s real. Is this a blurring between life and death,  a door that can be opened, a never-ending connection to that which is eternal?

Sometimes it's hard to tune into the right wave length. I get distracted.  The pain of racism overwhelms me yet urges me on to try and make a difference.  Sometimes it’s my ego that raises its gnarly head that interferes. Mostly though, it’s just life’s agenda needing attention which muffles the connection. But now knowing that place of connection is real, that it can be accessed when my prayers are the right resonance, that I and others can really, concretely connect with people in a space beyond words, could this be part of a whole new consciousness?

In a matter of days our world has been turned upside down. The world as we have know it has ended.  As this going on for month after month, potentially for a year or more, some things will never be able to fully go back to where they were. The rest we do not know except that right now is a time to be a palm tree that can be blown back and forth in the wind, not an oak tree that is strong and fine until the hurricane hits. Maybe among the bad there is some good, no one can predict the future. Is this time a curse or a blessing? Is this an opportunity to kindle and develop a sort of telepathic ability that joins us into a web of love?

With all the great anxiety and fear, connecting with each other through a phone call, through Facebook or a meeting through Zoom is great but there is also another genuine way.  We can choose to let go of all that which keeps us separate and join together in that place where I have traveled. I know it is real. Don’t loose hope. We can see this as a new, radically beautiful beginning, an exciting a wonder filled adventure toward a place of true freedom, perfect unconditional love, inner oneness and ultimate peace.

I end by saying how deeply and truly grateful I am for all who occupy this space, this time, this oneness, those who connect our mythic selves and perhaps open the door to an offerings of the ultimate tree of life.

with Love, Gratitude and prayers for Health,
Rachel
~for more irregular writings visit https://reflectionsfromtheeaglesnest.blogspot.com

Broken Thankfulness

I feel broken 
broken hearted

Broken hearted that one typo 
was perhaps a nail in democracy’s coffin
it not really about Trump

But that betray of Country for some is acceptable


Broken hearted so many smart people

don’t realize change isn’t always good

sometimes it is worse

much, much worse

Broken hearted at the blindness
rejection of wisdom,
opinion confused with fact
the search for that next thrill, or text

Broken hearted by the slaughter
planet pillaged
pipelines build carrying the earth’s blood, made toxic
 by the waste, greed, profanity

Broken hearted by
the number of people in fear for their lives
 because of the color of their skin
because of how they worship
because of who they love

Broken hearted by
 the number of people hurt, angry, alone
homeless
in more ways then one

broken hearted that we are pulled
further and further into a world of lies
tiny insignfianct things, empty words
“I didn’t see," I will send”,  “I care”

white lies

Broken hearted by my own stupidity

broken hearted that we have such pretty words
such beautiful dreams
such poor commitment to make it real
intention confused with action

Broken hearted by the rejection of people,
 through neglect
or drifting away
by people who say they’ll always be there
who couldn’t forgive

Broken hearted like Job,
 pieces on the ground,
 and yet he still got up,
still held his love of God.

And broken hearted that the only thing I can do is
say thank-you
see that today is a beautiful day.
say thank-you for sitting next to a fragrant rose
picked from an Eden Ed and I create

Thank-you

In the days ahead some will be well below freezing
But all we have is here and now
 it can be incredibly beautiful and sweet.

Thank-you for the opportunity to if we choose

be part of the unfolding
where everyone is feed
where everyone is safe and sheltered,

respected, equal
and where everyone's lips can say simply, thank-you

Down to my toes I am grateful
Thank-you!
                           12/18/16 (after Trump's election)

Path of Peace

discouraged, disheartened, depressed, devastated
Where is the path of Peace?
understand implications of prejudice, privilege
devastating pain 
so casually inflicted.

perspective and perception
look to the horizon
beautiful sights
look to eternity

Love did not trump hate
senseless fear. 
starting in our own hearts
Be courageous! 

healing through humor 
divine presence as trickster 
choices
get stronger,  grow 
move and change
change the narrative, 
change the outcome 
move the world

stand our ground
what is your ground? 
fertile soil of spiritual connection
in a tempest 
who we are is known

No it is not okay
But embrace joy anyway
Enjoy a beautiful sunset or flower, 
a chocolate bar 

Don’t give-up on who we are! 
Don’t give up on hope! 
Don’t give up on Love!
Be Peace. 
Be your true Self. 
Onward!

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I suspect that probably all of us are feeling discouraged, disheartened, depressed and maybe even despondent.  We feel this way not so much because “our” candidate lost, for many of us H. Clinton was not our first choice. Rather because of what we have learned about who we are as a nation and where we see things going. It feels devastating. Where is the path of Peace?

A necessary balm for my soul at this very troubling time is to look to eternity. We might live in this material, finite world surrounded with the busy-ness of day to day tasks, with leaders who are contrary to what we hold true and precious, with other people who do not see or understand the implications of prejudice, privilege and devastating pain so casually inflicted.  But this too will pass with not even a blink of Brahma’s eye. Who was the greatest king or leader the world had every known 10,000 years ago? Gilgamesh existed less then 5,000 years ago and who really believes that D.J. Trump would be anywhere near the category of one the greatest world leaders?

So instead of dwelling on this scary moment,  I lift up that there is a part of us, an energy that was neither created not can be destroyed because it is part of a whole. It is not finite but infinite, not temporal so not limited by any human or natural disaster because it is eternal. Its a question of perspective and perception. Twice a day, instead of focusing on the troubles close at hand if we look to the horizon in the east or west we will see one of the most beautiful sights in the whole universe. Those days when it is cloudy and the phenomenal array of color and shape isn't visible, we all know it is there none the less. Just so for this time we are in. 

Difficult as it is to see, there are positives to this situation. No, I am not saying that it is or will be at all okay.  But there is learning from this, although frankly,  it is things I really didn’t want to see or know regarding my fellow citizen especially in terms of the hugeness of the deep and pervasive underlying sexism and racism.  D. J. Trump's election demonstrated the grip it has on white men in particular, plus  tapped into white women’s strong share of racism. In the broader picture, not all men of color are clean in regards to sexism and wealth and class play a huge role in who benefits. Love did not seem to trump hate but it isn’t that hate or indifference got the upper hand, it is senseless fear. An antidote is keeping it local, starting in our own hearts. This part is something we can do something about. Be courageous! 

Another thing I’ve learned is that the innocence of gullibility can have serious implications for everyone.  Proverbs 18:2   — "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion”.  It is hard to see this as part of the Creator's purpose but easier if we see it within the context of our soul experience beyond this one brief life.

From steaks, to university to get rich quick schemes, the phrase “a Sucker is Born Every Minute" said in regards to one of the penultimate showman, P. T. Barnum’s hoaxes,  applies today. “Nobody ever lost a dollar by underestimating the taste of the American public.” is also one of his quotes. In 2016, P. T. Barnum has been trumped. What else can this teach us?  Remember, one important aspect of the divine presence is as the trickster. 

I hold for myself that I and all of us, have choices. We can laugh and we can learn and we can heal.  Obstacles present something to push against or move around which might give a new solution or path that we did not see before. We also can use any circumstance to get stronger,  to grow and to move and change; change the narrative, change the outcome and move the world. What new ways can Spirit be made manifest? 

Every challenge has opportunity; "The Mighty Oak Was Once A Little Nut That Stood It’s Ground…” What is important in this quote is the stand our ground part. But what is your ground? For some of us it is the fertile soil of our spiritual connection.  We are nourished and nurtured by an experiential knowing that is beyond human language. It is not when we stand our ground in times of calm that who we really are is known, even the seed fallen on a rock can sprout,  but it is in a tempest. Those of us who have been able to send our roots down into the midst, through both our joys and sorrows (for seasoned manure is best for growth), will stand the tests of time. We weren't promised that it would be easy.

A few days before the election I left my little Cape Cod bubble and crossed the bridge onto the mainland.  Seeing the amount of support for Trump was deeply disturbing. That night I was looking for some prayer for healing. Nothing spoke to me until I saw the the above quote about the oak tree and the 1st line of this prayer:  "Dear God,  I’m quirky I know. I don’t always do things in a traditional way. But I know what’s right. I know how to stand my ground for what I believe to be true. Still, I need Your help dear God. You planted the seed. You nourish me. Shelter me now from the elements that stand in my way. Help me grow.” Growth can be painful;  learning expensive. I do so wish this hadn’t been such a steep price.

Some prayers that feel appropriate at this time; "May the Source of peace send peace to all who mourn, and comfort to all who are bereaved.”   And “ Eternal Source, may we face the morrow with hope made stronger by the vision of Your deliverance, a world where poverty and war are banished, where injustice and hate are gone. Teach us more and more to respond to the pain of others, to heed Your call for justice, that we may bring nearer the day when all the world shall be one. On that day the age-old dream shall come true..” 

Finally, lets not give up! Find something joyful. Stay strong and gentle with each other and ourselves. Enjoy a beautiful sunset or flower, a chocolate bar or all three.   
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)”   
Lets really be these people! We can do it!
Don’t give-up on who we are! 
Don’t give up on hope! 
Don’t give up on Love!
Don’t give-up on each other!
Be Peace.
The Path is within you.  
Be your true Self. 
Onward!

In Love,
Rachel

Walking the Path of Love

It came in a dream and then a memory of a dream; elusive upon waking. A mass of extraneous things swirled around the seed of truth. The things the mind hooks onto are easy to remember.  They seem annoying, a distraction but the realization came that they fill an important function by presenting the aspects that tell where the path is not.  These need to be cleared out before the essential is reveled.  It does no good to clear the undergrowth from the whole forest. It is only when we can clear away the obstructions from where we want to travel that we can rise to a higher plane of being and walk the path. 

What are the components of this undergrowth? Much is a normal part of the human condition, thoughts or feeling that possibly everyone has from time to time: 

a.  Competition: finding the path has nothing to do with being the victor or loser,  winning or losing. Rivalry, antagonism obscures the path.

b. Judgement: The path of love has nothing to do making a negative assessment, recrimination, judging someone to be troublesome or mean. 

c. Differences:  It also surprisingly, has nothing to do with reconciliation, the repair of a past relationship, overcoming rejection or irreconcilable differences.  This type of love is not about expectations. 

d. Success: It is not about success, achievement,  being given a great honor, recognition and the pleasant feeling this engenders. 

e. Failure:  it is also not about failure; everyone, everyone is doing the best they can with the resources they have available.

f. Friendship: Odd as it sounds, its not about the love people feel for each other, even those who set the heart racing. 

To get to the core of the message all this has to be cleared away.

The essence of how to walk the path of love can only break through when everything seems lost, when all hope of doing or making things better is gone. Realization comes after,  in that dream of being chased,  there is no where to turn,  not intellect, not feelings, not strength, not even faith.  It is then that a voice comes; at this time when there is nothing else to hold onto, there is a feeling of being receptive, resigned and complete surrender. It's a secret message but in plain sight, it comes and says something so simple it seems idiotic. Pure, unconditional Love can be held in one’s heart. It’s possible. As President Obama said quoting MLK Jr. "I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

The instruction that came through the dream about how to walk this path, was simple. At times of meditation think about a person only in terms of how they are wonderful, miraculous and special. Reject the components of this undergrowth; judgement, differences, success, failure, friendship.  See, feel, sense the inner essence; see  only the eternal, not finite, beauty. The negative or positive stuff might be true but it isn’t Truth. For this moment it doesn't matter.   Cleared away what is left is brilliance, uniqueness and beauty; just radiant inner goodness, with no, expectation. None. No right or wrong, no if / then. No quid pro quo, no strings, no "going back to how things were,” no opinion, or business, just simply being in that space of pure positive soul to soul connection.  In prayer BE in the place, hold this energy. This is relating on a higher plane. On the lower plane of life there is good and bad and tangled agendas, like a piece of paper filled with so much writing that eventually there is no space to write even one more letter. But on the higher plane it is all blown away with one breath, disappearing ink; no duality. 

Imagine the world where this is practiced; a different way of being with each other surrounded by peace and joy. Certainly we all will fail at this but what would it be like if we don't give up? Imagine starting right now … Imagine … 

Holding the Center

The Reason

Everything has a reason.

There may not be predestination, we do have free will,
however,
some sort of reason could be behind everything,
a Being
a Name.

Maybe bringing a lesson for us,
maybe a test.
Or a training
or a forming as in hammering and heating steel into a plow.
Maybe it's an opportunity.
Maybe all the above combining to feel like
crisis "a combination of "danger" and "opportunity"
or an Emergency,
ency; indicating an action, state, condition, or quality
and so we
emerge,
if we choose.

Finding the way, the righteous path can be difficult,
treacherous,
analogous to a dark tunnel,
light shinning ever so dimly above.
Things not as they seem.
Positive can be negative,
negative can be positive,
good and bad intertwine.
Its hard to know the motives of others
or self
in the material plane.
Truth can have many seemingly contradictory faces
especially when the 3Ps are involved,
power, property (money), or prestige.

The question is,
 do we learn from seeming crisis
or rinse and repeat?
Creation in a sense is fractal,
many many reflections of the wholes
of Divine presence.
The same experience can be an equally important lesson 
for a group
an individual,
selectively tailored to meet each's needs.

At present a presence presents a present.
Here and now the Divine essence is giving a gift.
Endless, eternal Reality,
transcendent, absolute Truth
erased the fictions
the contradictions.
There is perfect Clarity,
Light,
Balance,
Love
the Reason, if we choose.
If we choose hold hands
and allow this Light
to flow through us into the world.

Are You Ready?

Are You Ready? 

Ready for thee unexpected?
Perhaps a new success
Or failure,
Like the fortune cookie said,
Your hearts desire or
Thy spiritual awakening.
Fully conscious of the potential of our souls
Imagine
Enlightenment, or a huge step in that direction.
A new year
The world, an unexpected wonder filed with
Unexpected beauty, joy and pure fun.

Worshipful New Year's eve at Mattapoisset Friends;
A pleasant drive with my best friends.
Along 6a lights in Sandwich,
Large figures of what a child called fairy lights;
A fireman with hose, another a wrench.
A family and a large heart.
A friend drops by,
The mystery unfolding
Light returns so quickly,  amazing.
One week,
Flood lights in Eden’s parking at 5,
The next 4:30 still a faint sunset in the sky.

Those things that we are resigned to,
Not optimal but fine
Turn into an expected blessing
In a blink of the eye.
The light breaks through and then
Lights, camera, action.
Things are waiting
We are on hold
Waiting,
Waiting, then whoosh
Like a door being opened
Truth is reveled,

Nothing hidden
What if you or I got something major wrong?
What If they were right?
Can we be sure
If we have been fooling ourselves?
How will this Truth feel,
Will "oops, I'm sorry" work?
In life or death
Ready?
Ready or not
Here we come
Or go.

But then total understanding,
forgiveness.
A knowledge,
It's all okay,
Peace
At least with you.
You are Loved.
We are Loved.
Always have, always will be,
As it was in the beginning
Now and forever,
World without end.

So for 2014
May peace prevail and this new time of year
Be bright for everyone with renewed Light,
May our journey be free of fear
being Spirits that soar beyond the night

May things that need repair be repaired
With change happening as You will
May the struggle for justice be dared
With courage to climb that hill

May Joy and Beauty abound
May Peace encompass the earth
May Love be our fertile ground
And we be part of Your new birth
                                   ~rch

Imagine

Imagine,
Imagine if you, were the Messiah, Moshiach, Moses
the Second Coming or the First,
the Mahdi, Maitreya (future Buddha of this world)
Kalki, Saoshyant (Zoroastrian brings the final renovation).
Yes you and likewise your neighbor.
Not to be crucified, only Love
made wholly holy, whole.
Think about it.

What if something clicked and seeing these words
you realize deep down, that spark within
you were, were truly truly the world's savior?
What would you do?
What would be suddenly unimportant and
What would you let go?
The petty squabbles, transitory pleasures,
possessions, comforts,
soap operas and sports whether live or televised?

Do we actually know who we really are?
Some part of us,
some essence
that cannot be reduced to any of the parts of the material world,
something that is immutable, that will not change
over time
or space?

Logically, one of two things is correct.
Either you are
or you are not.
For thousands of years everyone assumes we are not.
What if we are wrong
or asleep?

What if reading this is the catalyst
to wake you to your potential
latent responsibility as the One?
to hatch or birth a new way of being
Our soul's purpose
bringing Peace
beauty, joy, the Word
no racism, no power over, no "other"
To engage each other only in Love and Respect
Today, here and now

Listen,
listen to that still small voice, calling
the soul's possibility
See,  see the Light
that which existed before the sun

Something is already being built
inside the house of cards in which we think we currently exist
of global disasters, atrocities, catastrophes, political, environmental, mass destruction, massacres
a structure of which we all are an essential part.
Not based upon kings or queens, clubs or spades or diamonds
but connects through the heart
transcending, infinite and eternal all part of a whole
understanding that another person's suffering is really our own
and their brilliance and glory is also ours to share.

Imagine it,
Imagine you are the Messiah.

Each of us the One the world is waiting for.
Make believe
Who knows
what a wondrous world is being created?

Why not?
If not now, when?
Imagine

~Rachel Carey-Harper 1/2/13

(picture of imagine rock and the door to Eden, Doctor Lords Rd. E.Dennis MA)

We are Perfection

We are Perfection

Among the wintergreen, taste reality.
Full moon, 5 wild turkeys,
salamanders, ants, spider webs,
owls, bald eagles,  fish and insect
Perfect harmony.
Smell Oxygen, 

so many trees.
Embraced in only this
Forest, pristine,
Perfect solitude.

Universal music,
Opening
richer then the greatest symphony,
a feast
greater than the most succulent buffet.
Water
flows over rocks,
Wind
in branches, notes and rests
Perfect timing.

A sun dappled face
sparkling pond
Human
even at finest, such a poor substitution.
This is reality,
not the tv news,
Facebook,
the selling, the buying,
Cash flow vs the flow of Creation
Perfect divinity.

We Choose,
Every minute of every day.
Look around,
how could this magnificence
possibly fit in a room,  or building
or one person.
Each and every one of us
Essence -- essential!
Glory,  the highest
Perfection abounds.

Yes, sometimes it feels
 impossible struggle,
just walking
through a blizzard with chances slim 

will make it home
Alive.
But then, too difficult to pass
Simple.
Why all the prejudice, oppression, Trouble?
Perfect harmony

The splendor,
Gifts Creator gives us
Sometimes we feel unworthy,
we say "oh no, no
I can't accept this".
Sometimes the opposite
we say "thanks
but what I really want and need is ..."
With every new gift comes responsibility.
Perfect service.

Just to be
Here and now
sufficient unto the day,
the hour,
the moment.
Nothing else
Perfect Love,  Wholeness,
Holiness,
One.
We are Perfection.

            Mount Monadnock 9/12/11 - 9/15/11   ~Rachel Carey-Harper

Oneness of All: a prayer

Prayer to try and bring out the best when feeling the worst.


Oh Lord please lift the shadows and darkness from the eyes of those 
who hurt and destroy 
so they can see the Truth and the consequences of their 
            actions,  
                 their words, 
                            their motives. 
And Lord I beseech you to especially lift the shadow from my eyes as well.


Oh Lord please lift the terrible heaviness from my heart, 
the grief and mourning
            for all the loss and anguish 
                        brought to the world. 
And Lord I beseech you to especially lift the heaviness from the hearts of those on a destructive path.

Oh Lord please lift all that keeps each of us,   our friends and those who oppose us,  
separate from you so that we can 
        rest 
             in your goodness 
                        and bring harmony to our gorgeous planet. 
And Lord I beseech you to especially lift this veil of disconnect so we put our complete trust in your infinite power, beauty; 
Sensing the Oneness of All."