For anyone who has studied any amount of spiritual history, they know that almost all spiritual practices involve ritual - sometimes lots and lots of ritual. And I think that at some points in history, these rituals were not only beneficial to people but pretty much necessary to facilitate their connection to the divine. But is it necessary now?

I suppose that the question of necessity is really an individual one. There are days when ritual is required for me to really feel the connection to my higher levels, but most days I can feel the connection as I go about my day-to-day. What I aspire to is the day that there is no more “higher” and “lower”, there is just me, in a body, living life to the fullest. For the connection to always be "on", for my higher levels to have co-mingled so completely with my lower levels as to be "one"; that is the ultimate! I'm not there yet, but every so often I can feel it.

Still, ritual did play a role in getting me to where I am today. When my life was centered on a very demanding job, and my days flew by in a flurry of stress and activity - the ritual of meditation was priceless to me. I would get up early and start my day with a meditation, and many times I would end the day with that gift of quiet time as well. This time of meditation is when I noticed that I could have a conscious connection with my higher levels. This is when I realized that I didn't have to wait until my intuition slapped me in the face to get my attention, that I could actually call on it to guide me along.

Ritual serves us well, as long as we don't become hooked into it. It can provide an excuse to take a bit of time to see the world, and everyone in it, from a kinder and gentler perspective. It can provide the framework for connecting to parts of ourselves, others, and parts of the universe that we had not considered before. The only drawback is dependence. When we feel that we cannot find peace unless we have 30 minutes to meditate, then we have become dependent upon the ritual.

When we realize that we can connect to the divine, and the divine in each other; when we can get to peace and clarity; without prayer, or meditation, or puja, or soul-gazing, or whatever other ritual we might practice: then we are free to enjoy each moment of our lives without worrying about when, where, and how we fit the rituals into our schedule.

In this way, we can enjoy our lives and make good use of those times when we do include rituals; as we allow the benefit of the ritual to permeate each moment of our daily life.

Namaste!

Susan M Wright

Channeling

Susan and I know many people who channel, and it seems that every week we hear a new message from a new channel or a new source.  In my world, all of these messages are true for someone; either the person who brought the message through, or a client they are working with, or someone reading or listening to the channel. 

Some channels put these messages out as if they were applicable to every person on the planet.  After all, the message was channeled.  Yet, I treat channeled messages the same way I treat TV information; with caution!  I ask myself:  "Is this my truth, too?"

When I get a clear message from my source that the information is true for me; I go with it.  Often my answer comes that someone's channeled information is not true for me - at this time.  So, I bless it and let it be; and, I recommend that you do the same thing with anything that I write.

So, channeled or otherwise, check with your higher self to see if the information you are presented with is true for you.

Life is good!

Lots of love,

Wolfgang