Ascension

There is a lot of talk among many spiritual people of a coming ascension. There is a wide variety of expectations, some which include a complete change in our physical form.
What does “ascend” mean? It means to go up. To rise.

As human beings, we are on a venture of understanding. What is right? Wrong? Good? Evil? Who is worthy of “ascending” on such and such date?

Whatever our beliefs or understandings about the christian christ might be, we have in the teachings attributed to him some valuable lessons on living. Whether he was a living being or an important mythical figure, there is a lot we can learn from the depiction of his life, teachings and attitude.

Christ ascended. This is part of the story. How? What did the writings of him have to say about this?

The writings tell us that the kingdom of God is within us. The “kingdom” is later defined as the righteousness, peace and joy that is found in the holy spirit. How do we live this righteousness, peace and joy? That’s the tricky part. We are told to love our enemies, forgive those that persecute us and say all manner of evil against us. Hmmm. Who are these “enemies”? The Chase Bank president? George Bush? Sadam Hussein? That irritating boss? That person that spoke down to us or spread a nasty rumor? Yep. All those and more. Who is on your list? Who do you find it difficult to love? There’s the test.

Since the action of love is one of the most important teachings of the ascended christ and the most important attribute of “ascension”, what is it? It isn’t about only the people we get along with, those we have enjoyable relationships with, those that treat us well, those that act, legislate or rule as we would like them to. No. Love is a desire to be one with. “Oneness” is talked about alot. “We are all one!” That means “we are” that critical person in our lives; that one that pushes our buttons; that one we find so corrupt and damaging to the world; that one that doesn’t recycle or robs the corner grocery store. “ONE” is one. “ALL” is all. You see, love is the enlightened realization that we are all one, and there is no “other” that deserves attack, hatred, or a degrading word spoken behind their back. We ALL are going to “make it” eventually – some just have a few things to work out first. That’s why we are here for each other.

Ascension, I believe, is an attitude and perception that takes us up above the current paradigm of attack, defend, conquer and retaliate. It is a level we can occupy humbly when we truly practice loving kindness towards all and let go of our victimhood, insecurity and fear. It is a level of existence in which we have truly forgiven and learned to love ourselves. When a truly enlightened being is challenged, they answer with loving wisdom, or perhaps silence. They are not offended, because they have realized there is no need to defend. They know who they are, and they are humble because of it. They may be given to service, but not at the cost of de-valuing or abusing themselves. There is a state of trusting acceptance and faith. There is complete forgiveness of the self and all others.

Regardless of the dates given, the opinions or channellings, the expectations or lack of expectation, the best thing that you can do is live each moment according to the beautiful principles of love. Live by the golden rule, doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. (This doesn’t mean getting pissed off at people that disagree with you or don’t treat you how you’d like to be treated, it means treating them well regardless!) Don’t be easily offended! Take care of yourself, and do something joyful every day. Appreciate this grand holographic simulation we’re participating in! And know, everything is going to be just fine. It’s only a matter of time, and time is just a dimensional illusion.

Unbound by space and time, the Angelic beings are messengers of the Divine Presence, available and present for all.

Archangel Michael, one of the most well known in the angelic kingdom, wields a sword of light and has a very strong presence with humanity.  Along with our guardian angels, he assists in emergency situations with precision.  He is also able to assist us in managing the chords of energy we establish with people and things and places, and any other detrimental energies we may absorb along the way.

Wherever you are now as you read this, you can call on the presence, energy and assistance of Archangel Michael.  Always gentle, peaceable and positive, the energy of Archangel Michael is truly safe and loving.  Ready?

As you read, take a relaxing breath.  In this present moment, let go of your busy thoughts and relax.  Feel yourself completely at ease in your physical body.  Whatever you are sitting on is completely supporting you.  Relax into your body…..  Breathe…..           We give permission for Archangel Michael to bring his beautiful and strengthening energy to our lives for our highest good at this moment.       As you relax and breath notice if there is any tension or unease in any part of your body.   Allow Archangel Michaels’ warm and bright energy to comfort these areas.        There may be tension or unease that is connected to a particular person or situation that has been a part of your experience.  Our energy connects with all the people and things we interact with, and while some of these connections are positive and loving, others are discordant or fear based.  These latter connections are the ones that Archangel Michael can help with.        Imagine a tube or chord that connects you with any discordant, fearful, dependent or unhealthy source.  Perhaps you sense the unease in some area, but don’t know the cause – that’s fine – just imagine a chord connected to that area of your body.  We now ask Archangel Michael to use his spiritual sword of light to easily sever these unhealthy chords.  Allow him to lovingly removes the roots of this chord from your body and cleanses the area with blue light.    Whomever or whatever was at the other end of this unhealthy chord is lovingly plugged into Diving Energy, from which healing and help now flow.  You can let go.    Now,  imagine yourself surrounded in Divine Light and Love.      Thank you Archangel Michael.   All things will be resolved.

On our journey of life, everything is a valuable experience.  The Divine Presence flows through the angels as they assist us in seeing the joy and possibility and love in every situation, no matter how challenging it seems.  Archangel Michael is especially adept at helping us to let go and see all things in a new and divine way.

As we understand that we are neither alone nor helpless, more and more Divine Light will reveal the gifts and beauty in our lives. Divine power and strength will also reveal to us those areas into which more light, acceptance, peace and joy can flow. There are great multitudes of helpers for humanity as we ‘exist’ in time and space.  Surrender your fears and allow Archangel Michael to support you with that energy that flows from the Divine Light of All that is.  The angels are Divine messengers that communicate in ways easy for us to comprehend.  Although there is nothing that need separates us form the Divine, the angels help awaken us to our connection.

There are so many amazing accounts attributed to angelic beings – sometimes seen as human, sometimes as winged beings of beauty.  What and who are they?

The word ‘Angel’ means messenger.  They have been written about in numerous religions as beings that deliver messages from God to man.  Attributed with various specialties, the angels work with humanity but do not interfere with our free will.

Aside from religious texts, the first information on angels that made sense to me was written by Doreen Virtue.  I stumbled across one of her books quite by accident called ‘Healing With the Fairies’.  As an artist I loved painting winged creatures and loved the idea of fairies.  I was quite surprised when I read that Doreen Virtue not only believed in the existence of these creatures, but regularly communed with them.  From this book, I moved on to her other writings on angels.

The angels are energetic beings, sometimes seen as colored light which sparkles or as beams of light. As we invite them into our lives they are able to assist and guide and enlighten us regularly.

It has been such a rewarding experience to do Angel Readings.  As the person I am reading for gains clarity, insight, comfort or direction I feel so thankful to be helpful.  Angel Readings go beyond psychic information as the angels direct us in ways to clear our energy fields, forgive, and heal.

The more that I learn about and experience the angels in my life and work, the more exciting and hopeful I feel.  From our human perspective we may still have questions about what and who the angels are and what their origin truly is, but the love and guidance we can receive speaks for itself.

It can exist within us without our realization.  It’s prowling and talking and whimpering and whining – it’s mad and it’s hurt and it’s scared and it’s armed to the teeth – it’s debasing and criticizing, back-biting and gossiping and lying and defending and attacking and most of all denying what it really is –  and it NEVER  truly protects or helps or comforts or loves or guides or satisfies, but it does, in creating a continually dissatisfied and frustrated state, move us forward.  It is……..                                   THE VICTIM!

Victom or Victor?  To be under, to be over, or to be beside?  To be beneath, or to see from above?  Where am I?  Where are you?

On the scale of emotions, guilt and shame are the lowest.  They’re the states that can keep us depressed, apathetic, under the covers, seeking numbness and wishing we just didn’t have to be here.   We rise up from that terribly depressive state to anger. Anger is a step up.  We raise our vibrational output when we let our feelings be known and  express ourselves even if it’s Ugly!

From there we move up the emotional vibrational scale to blame.  ’I'm angry, and I’m directing it   Out There!…. to those responsible for MAKING me as I AM gosh darn it!!’

It IS a step up, and an important one.  It’s two steps up from serious depression and apathy and shame and guilt, and one step up from feeling enraged at what has/is going on.   But it’s still quite a distance from the feelings of contentment, joy, peace and equanimity that are the highest and most pleasurable states.

I was surprised when I realized a few years ago how much ‘victimization’ language was going on in my mind.   ‘Life is too hard.’ ‘I feel so stuck.’  ’If they hadn’t/this wasn’t/etc……’

Recognizing the language we use as we talk to ourselves and others is illuminating.  Although it is very important to allow ourselves and others to progress through the emotional stages in order to reach happiness, it’s also important for our personal health and happiness  to not live our lives perpetually at the lower levels of the emotional scale;  shame/guilt/depression, anger, blame.

STEP ONE:  Recognize and admit where we are at.

Am I complaining, blaming or placing my attention on ANYTHING outside of myself and using those things as an excuse to get mad or hurt and to stay in a place where I’m unhappy?  That is playing the victim.    Using  anything or anyone as an excuse for not realizing my dreams and my highest state of love, peace and joy is self inflicted victimization.

Many might shout ‘Not ME! Are you serious?  I’m not a victim!  Look at me!  ROAR! I’ll rip you up!  I’ll tell the neighbors/government/banks/parents/’friends’/kids/boss/etc.etc what THEY should do! and if they don’t, well, I’m just *#@^&!  and there’s nothing I can do about it because they/he/she/it is and are running the world, and I am living in THAT world”         Whoa!  There’s the anger and blame, and there’s that victim!  Who runs your world?  ONLY YOU!

The idea that a victim is a weak, sappy, put upon doormat is not as often the case as is the victim which is in an endless state of attack and defense.    It is our idea of what strength truly is and what the feeling of personal empowerment truly feels like that must be adjusted.

True personal power is the stamina to remain calm, in control, rational and at peace regardless of what is going on around or ‘to’ us.    Strength is an unwavering stature of righteousness that is compassionate and humble, true to principles of goodness and kindness and still open to listening to others points of view.  It is free from blame, free from complaints of any kind, free from self abasement and criticism and free being tossed around by every occurrence that is experienced.   True power is a very peaceful thing.  It is HAPPINESS!  It needs no defense, because it cannot be stolen.  There are no ‘enemies’ or ‘antagonists’ because there is a knowledge of full self responsibility for every thought, reaction, emotion and experience.  It feels really go-oo-od!

Victim or Victor?   When we realize it is ONLY ourselves we must conquer (and we do this conquering with pure and unconditional love)  we realize that a ‘Victor’ need not imply a ‘Victim’.   In the state of perfect self acceptance and love,  a winner needs not a loser a winner empowers more winners.  We’re finally free to let go of the need to place the blame anywhere but upon our own previous misunderstanding of who we truly are – an Amazing, Wonder-full, Loved, Perfect, Well Planned, Deliberate, and Divine expression in human form.  Our lives have been EXACTLY as they should have been.  We are denied nothing for any reason that is outside of ourselves.

We forgive, we let go, we come to terms, we extend a hand.  We breath and share the air and we reach out to touch and feel the sense of comfort and togetherness that is so good.   We yearn and we move forward in this space and time dimension we’ve chosen to partake in, and we are PERFECT.

So, if you have complained – yes you – in any way or shape or form – make the choice to move your address from ‘Victim Lives Here’ to ‘Peace Lives Here’.    It’s happiness we’d all like, right?  Well, this is a move in that direction.  Take the step with me! Congratulations to us!  We are  ’Victim Graduates’ moving ever closer to sustained peace, kindness, really deep and true self-love and the supreme realization of EVERLASTING JOY!

Joan Marie

Beauty is defined as qualities which give pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalt the mind or spirit.  Pleasure is being in a state of gratification – it is finding delight and joy.  At the opposite end of the spectrum there is shame, a painful emotion stemming from guilt or regret and the fear of not being good enough.

Archangel Jophiel is noted as the Angel of Beauty.  Whether in our surroundings, our creations or our inner landscape, this Angel is the one to call on to beautify anything in your life.  Heed the ideas and directives that come as you call on this energy for relationships, for thoughts, for living.

The beautification of our thoughts in regard to any situation creates more beauty in our experiential lives.  Remembering that beauty is a pleasurable exaltation of the mind or spirit, it’s just what we need at those times when we are down on ourselves, in a state of stress, worry, or  helplessness.   Ask the amazing energetic presence of Jophiel to assist you in altering your thoughts and perceptions about yourself and your life experience.  Shame and guilt, two of the lowest vibrational emotions, can be transformed by the realization that all is well, that we are a growing and expanding and learning spirit meant to have had this variety of experiences.

Now, turn and look upon joy.  Contemplate peace.  Meditate on the beauty that does exist in your life as you open your eyes to it. Do not dismay at your hurts or seeming shortcomings.  These are all a part of your beautiful self which is a full spectrum being. When thoughts of worry, guilt or ugliness arise, ask yourself – Is this what I want more of??  No! Call on Jophiel to assist you in bringing in the thoughts that create more beauty, joy, pleasure and peace in your life.

After reading the following prayer, close your eyes and allow the beautifying energy of Jophiel to enfold your being:

Archangel Jophiel, I ask for your energetic presence to come into my auric field, my mind, my heart.  I see the sparkling energy of deep rose pinks flowing around me as you come.  I surrender any thoughts that bring me down.  I surrender and choose instead to focus on beauty within me; on all of my wonderful attributes; on my request and promised fulfillment of love and peace within.   Let me feel this fulfillment in my heart and mind and energetic field right now.   I feel thankful appreciation for your wonderful presence and I listen to your reminders to love and accept myself just as I am as I embrace myself as a divine creation.   In appreciation and love, I invite and allow you to flow in now.

Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves.  It isn’t based on deserving, it is founded on the desire to wash clean our minds, emotions, lives.

Given the foundational principal that we are self responsible – completely accountable for all that we have experienced – it is to ourselves that we must offer the most important forgiveness.    Self responsibility opens us to the truth that all things we have experienced bear gifts, mirror our inner beliefs and feelings about ourselves, and balance our development of compassion.  This truth can carry us through processes of helplessness, blame, and anger  into acceptance, peace and strength.  Honesty, when coming from a place of love, guides us to ‘make right’ anything that involves other individuals.

Forgiveness is freedom.  Peace.

As you look within your life, allow any areas of un-forgiveness towards yourself or others to surface that it might be washed away. Ask to be shown peace.  You deserve it.