Trusting Love

This is the second of a series of excerpts to be posted bi-weekly. These excerpts are taken from teachings given by Maresha at The Sanctuary on: Consciousness, Spiritual Mentoring, Wholistic Nutrition, Spiritual Ecology and much, much more.

These words are dedicated to the spiritual pilgrim whose quest is endless. The quest is a longing that draws one forth into the unknown, into the mystery. We cannot grasp or clearly define what it is we are being drawn toward. We only know we are going from what is known, into the unknown. Many try to create controllable boundaries in which to live. Habits and patterns which are passed down become comfortable points of reference for living. Within those boundaries, we have an illusion of some semblance of safety and comfort.

The seeker steps outside the box. The seeker goes beyond the boundaries of what is comfortable and safe. The seeker dives deeply into the void. All attempts to understand, to know and control, are released. In other words, the seeker is liberated from what is already known. In order to become liberated from what is already known, one must return to the pure nature of innocence. Innocence opens to the possibility for the mystery to be revealed to us, much like a surprise.

Being in this state of innocence, is to trust love. In trusting love, we shed the masks, the performances and the controls. We expose the uncovered face, we live from our essential nature and invite wonder into our lives. This is the spiritual journey. The spiritual nature refuses certainty, dogma and social programs.To trust love, is a radical severance from one’s preferences, addictions, and obsessions. It is a persevering willingness to enter and re-enter the unknown. It is a commitment to listening to one’s inner voice, in wonder, anew, each day.

But what is it that we trust when we are trusting love? What is this love? This love is an absolute acceptance that we are not the initiator, that we open ourselves to a higher will. We walk to the water – give up the ego – so that we may immerse ourselves in the stream of consciousness, the stream of love, and merge with the infinite mystery.

This inner posture is held in every situation we meet. Outwardly, the actions of life look just like everybody else’s. Inwardly, we let life be revealed. Inwardly, we rise to every occasion with acceptance and grace, knowing it is the higher, divine will working through us. We live an ordinary life in an extraordinary way. Even the simplest act is performed differently by one who is free.

Trusting love is round, intuitive, receptive and flowing. It moves without obstruction, open to the unknown, asking to be shown, and being endlessly surprised at each revelation. It is simple, clear and honest. Trusting love means that each day we begin anew, exactly where we are. There is nothing special to do, nothing is previously required, nor do we have to go to any special place. The inner posture of acceptance and trust creates the ability in us to meet life exactly as it is. Trusting love, we can observe and respond to the mundane rhythms of life as well as to the extraordinary mystery of the eternal quest.

Liberation lies within each of us. The ability to trust love lies within each one of us.
Trusting love is symbolized by the beauty of the perpetually blooming rose. Open to receive the light, it maintains a state of perfect openness. “…turn your gaze to the beautiful garden which blossoms under the radiance of light. There is the Rose in which the Divine word became flesh: here are the roses whose perfume guides you in the right ways.” (Paradiso, 23, 71-75)

There is a golden center in each rose. The golden center reminds us to still the mind, breathe in beauty, accept everything, and to trust the love in which we have immersed ourselves. The golden center calls us into the mystery.

Attempt Nothing

This is the first of a series of excerpts to be posted bi-weekly. These excerpts are taken from teachings given by Maresha at The Sanctuary: Consciousness, spiritual mentoring, wholistic nutrition, spiritual ecology and much, much more.

BY ATTEMPTING NOTHING, WE GAIN EVERYTHING

In rare moments we drop our wants, needs and fears. Pettiness and insistence on having things our own way dissolve. In the empty space of the dissolution, room is made for the real and true nature of love to fill us. We need nothing. We are relaxed and our self-consciousness is gone. We are in the Divine current. It feels as natural as breathing in and out. We are open.

But then what happens? The wall of the self returns. Our agenda, which is a pre-determined, automatic response to how we meet life, rears its ugly head and demands that we not open, that we do not change. Change is not controllable. Change is not predictable. Change is not comfortable. We close down and shut the door. Roadblocks are set up by pushing, pulling, manipulating and being attached to outcomes. The flow of life is blocked. The moment an attempt is made to make something happen the way we want it to, we get in the way and the current is lost. The moment we act on our own behalf, we distance ourselves from love. Any attempt that is made to manipulate, alter, force, reject or attain anything, splits the energy and divides us from union with Divine Love.

This division impacts every level of our being: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE CREATE AN INTERNAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF DIVISION:

Physical: The body becomes constantly unwell. We feel physically limited and imposed upon by the body. We have no vitality, no energy. Even when a physical disease is present, if consciousness is not blocked, a sustaining level of acceptance & flow exists. Likewise, even if we are "well," if the energy is blocked, we do not feel well.

Emotional: A reaction against our experience: "Yes, I like it," or "No, I don’t like it." We position ourselves as to what we like or do not like, what we want or do not want. We fight against what is.

Mental: Questioning, doubting, analyzing. A restless mind that is never satisfied.

Spiritual: Separation, isolation, cut off, empty.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE CREATE AN INTERNAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF UNION:

Physical: Vitality, energy. Harmony with the body. Even if we have a disease, the current is not blocked. People can live harmoniously with various conditions if the energy is open.

Emotional: Acceptance and gratitude for what is given to us in life. We divest ourselves of preferences and become open and responsive to what is and how it is.

Mental: Questioning stops. The mind is open to possibility. The mind "waits on the will of heaven." Projections, judgments, comparisons and obsessions stop.

Spiritual: Connection, completeness, union. We feel the flow of support and love.

With the above checkpoints, it is easy to see whether we are open or closed. With the spiritual practice of self-reflection, we can learn to see the differences quickly and grasp what triggers consciousness or unconsciousness. Meditation and conscious breathing dissolve the individual self that is dissatisfied and full of cravings. The unconscious self is an obstacle. The Conscious Self is The Way. If you chose fear and doubt, it is yours. If you choose simplicity and liberation, it is yours. Learn to live with paradox. The unconscious self has agendas, preferences, obsessions, and opinions. The result is frustration and unfulfilled outcomes. The Conscious Self surrenders everything and attemps nothing. The result is Simplicity and a life of realized blessings and unexpected joys.