Now it is time for us to get out on the road, to walk the four paths however we encounter them and to embody them to the best of our ability to live the powers that we're talking about out in the world. Creation Spirituality is more than a philosophy or a series of thoughts that give us a proper worldview. It is a way of living, a way of acting and reacting in this world so that we maintain at our core, all those things that are wonderful about being human. So many paths in this world want to take us away from our own humanness, away from who and what we are intrinsically. Creation Spirituality reminds us: - we were all made, this whole cosmos itself was made in original blessing. - We have access to original wisdom and the original mind. - Through the original grace that is all around us, we can connect most deeply to the raw energies of the cosmos as they filter and flow through us into the world. We have learned that our path is not the only path. That the way that we walk is in this great spiral dance. That the mythology, the stories that inform our journey, are just as valid as the stories that inform other people's journey. We are here in this world called to take action to serve at the four great altars of life under the guidance of the four pillars of wisdom in concert with the four archangels to perform the four mysteries through a life of duty born from the four vows, and while that may sound like a lot, I know for me, I learned quite quickly that this was all my natural instinct. We reject the denigrating idea that we are lesser or broken that too many of us have been taught by others to hide this original blessing, to hide the presence of the cosmic Christ, to believe that we had to be a follower. Now, we know there really are no such things as leaders. That we travel the path together because we are all endlessly marching towards the world to come. I hope, if nothing else, in reading these words, you're inspired to dig deeper into the work of Creation Spirituality. That you find it rewarding and something that enlivens you. In the end, that is what all spirituality should do. The Apostle James says: > James 1:26-27 - WEB > If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless. > Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. We see this in all the teachings of Christ, and we see it repeatedly through the various prismatic lights that shine out through the four vias. No one, no institution, no person has the right to have power over any of us in our spiritual life, so long as we are doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly before our God. Not putting ourselves first, not telling ourselves the sweet lie that we are somehow more important than anyone else on this earth, but so long as we are actually consciously doing the work we are called to do, we are on the path. The earth is our mentor, the sun, the moon, the stars are our guides, the spirits move with and around us, and the One Life ever flows through us. It can be difficult to find the courage to let the images that are within you have the life that they desire, the life that we are called to give them. And I want to say that it's only difficult the first time, but the answer is that it's difficult every time we step out to do something new. Our brains are hardwired to warn us against new and novel experiences because we don't know what the dangers could be, the pitfalls. How could this harm us in some way? That really is the secret of all spiritual practice that I wish more people truly and deeply understood and practiced. Spirituality at its root, at its heart, at its very core should do no harm. Jesus likened himself to a physician that went out to heal those who were injured and sick, and I think too many people have forgotten what it means to be a physician, to be a healer. And so what we see in a lot of modern Christianity are folk who believe that they are here to eradicate the darkness. That we as children of light have some kind of duty to destroy the dark. But the darkness and the light always live together, one right next to the other. The darkness cannot overcome the light, but the light can dim itself and cover itself and hide itself so that all we can see is darkness, and if we're not careful, we let ourselves get to that place. The real hope and message of Creation Spirituality is that these blessings, this grace has always and will always be there for us. All we have to do is accept it. That's it, really and truly that easy, and that may sound so remote in a world filled with so much greed, so much hatred, and so much fear, but we have to remind ourselves that fear is what arises in us when we don't have the answers. Fear is what arises in us when we are unsure of what to do. We give into fear, so we can pretend we are strong. Fear is an ally, a warning signal, and not an enemy. Those who create fear are just announcing loud for everyone to hear how terrified they are. They are broadcasting their weakness in hopes that it will be misconstrued and misidentified as strength. Those who intimidate others are the weakest on the inside. They are afraid of being intimidated themselves, and so they lash out first. Those who fear others, strangers, the different, are afraid that they will be treated like one of the others, like a stranger, like someone who is different, and in their heart of hearts, they believe that there is something called normal or average, some standard that can be applied to which we can all be measured, and that's what makes someone normal. And I'm not going to disagree with them. There is. Our capacity for justice, compassion, and love is the universal standard by which we should all be judged. How much and how well do we live up to those standards? How well do we care for those who are injured or sick or lost? How well do we work for justice to be realized in the world? These are the things we are called to. These are the things that we have deep within our souls, every single one of us. We all have access to that original grace to get us where we need to go. You see, in the end, it doesn't matter what we look like, sound like, how smart we are. It matters how much we have done to bring justice and love into the world. The humility of our hearts is the measuring stick by which we will be judged. So don't be afraid. And if you are, don't shame yourself for that fear. If it arises, remind yourself of the great well of wisdom and power that we have access to. Remind yourself of all of the amazing things that we as humans can and will do, and then take that courage and go out and be brave. Bravery is not the absence of fear. It is the ability to see the bull running towards you and to leap over it. To move out of its path to not be crushed by it. That doesn't mean we don't feel it. Creation Spirituality is hope because it is born out of the same processes that made us and all life on this earth, as it has been distilled through the wisdom literature and through the great teachers who have come before us and the many that will come after us. It reminds us that no one is greater than anyone else because in the grand scheme of things, we are all one cosmos, one universe, one people united by the One Life that broke forth billions of years ago, giving rise to the stars, the planets, and to life itself within us. So take whatever wisdom you've been able to glean from this book and set out on those paths. Constantly growing in wisdom, but knowing deep in your heart that you are never far from original grace. That you have always been made an original blessing. Throughout this life, you will dance through the positive way, the negative way, the creative way, and the transformative way. In the end, all shall be peace. All shall be well, and all shall be good. | < [[16- The Four Pillars of Wisdom]] < | \|- [[00- Creation's Paths\|Table of Contents]] -\| | | | :------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------: | --- |