As the days grow longer, you may find yourself shining more brilliantly than ever. Like the Earth’s sun, you are self-generating, with the Divine radiating from you. This is the same power that fuels and creates everything in the cosmos and the cosmos itself.
Your life here in the tangible world exists only to help you realize and own that power. Each experience we have refines our concepts in relation to It.
A few years ago, I had an intimate encounter with the sun. I was working on assignment in northeastern New Mexico, a place where, with its dark night skies, celestial wonders shine brightly.
I just happened to arrive during a rare solar phenomenon. The planet Mercury was passing between us here on Earth and our sun.
It was a brilliantly clear day, in the little cowtown of Clayton, with a broad blue sky and thin plains air. I focused my eye on the viewfinder of a solarscope and there it was—a roiling mass of energy, so large it filled the whole screen. Solar flares licked off the surface as the giant mass pulsed with power. And at about one o’clock, tiny as a dust speck, passed Mercury, a planet that in the sun’s presence, diminished to near nothing. Over the next hours I watched as Mercury made its way across the great orange face. Here is what the sun whispered to me:
You are neither man nor woman.
You are neither rich nor poor.
You are neither healthy nor sick.
1. You are neither man nor woman. Each of us has both masculine and feminine powers available to us. Through lifetimes of experience we hone the masculine, arrow-like strength and the feminine petal-like surrender—and all the powers between those poles. One day, we come to know that, as soul, we are truly neither of them.
On my trip to northeastern New Mexico, I got to flex both powers. After seeing Mercury, I headed 20 miles outside of Clayton to an observatory at a remote lake. My headlights pierced through complete darkness as I made my way, and once there I waited alone at a little hut that housed the telescope. Creatures rustled in the brush and the lake appeared black. For moments I trembled in my boots, but I called on the Divine power and found my courage.
Soon an astronomer joined me, along a few other star-gazers. We stood near the lake, the air smelling of prairie sage, and the stars so abundant the sky turned golden. My chance to surrender came next when the moon appeared. Though we had a world-class telescope in our midst, the sky became so bright that it rendered the scope nearly useless. Yet, my assignment was to write about it. I had to surrender.
I let go of my fear of failing my assignment and came into the Now. Suddenly the night became magical as the astronomer gave us a naked-eye star tour. He showed us Polaris—the pole star, always marking the direction north—and pointed to the Andromeda Galaxy, two million light-years away. As I opened further to the experience, whole galaxies became visible above me, like great wheels spinning through time. And I knew in my very core, that, as Rumi says, “Everything in the universe is within.”
As we refine our masculine and feminine tendencies, they serve us most in centering the attention at the third eye. The feminine surrenders our attachments, while the masculine guards this holy shrine.
2. You are neither rich nor poor. Money too is an illusion of the lower worlds. When we think it is important, it dominates us, either through abundance or lack. But when you realize that you are like the sun’s rays, which neither chase after nor run from anything, you stop grabbing and simply Be that brilliant radiance.
To be honest, trips like this one to northeastern New Mexico pay very little. If I take good photos, they pay a bit more. But the Divine always brings me enough to live well. Occasionally, I have grown fearful and chased after money—taken a job that was unfulfilling and/or too much work. In those cases, my health has suffered, as has my spiritual connection.
But when I know that I am like the sun, a massive, self-generating entity, I can relax and simply Be that power, radiating to sustain the many parts of my lower-world existence. Then my material life transforms to support my highest purpose.
3. You are neither healthy nor sick. These physical bodies we inhabit contract viruses and infections. They fall out of alignment and hurt, they lose their strength and die. Yet like the sun, despite our pain and heartache, we shine on through lifetimes.
I have been blessed with allergies to foods and chemicals that have visited me often, manifesting with head and body aches and insomnia. They can be especially aggravated when I take trips like this one to northeastern New Mexico, where I eat diner-style food and sleep in musty motel rooms perfumed with air fresheners.
Over the years, I have tried nearly everything offered to me, only to find most remedies aggravate the symptoms. Only the Divine seems to hold the answer. As Rumi says, “Your pain is your cure.” I have seen that my pain is due to separation from my Divine self, and my cure is to Be with that self. Through this, I have been gifted with new work doing this “Inner Adventure” writing, which suits my higher and lower bodies better, and the allergies are disappearing.
On my way home across New Mexico’s broad plains, I saw antelope grazing and a Red-tailed hawk riding an updraft. Suddenly I came to a place that reminded me why they call this area The Big Empty. Around me was nothing, the land completely flat without a single mountain or telephone pole, just tan grass and the big sun shining above me. And in that moment I felt the freedom of a life that identifies with no condition or thing.
In truth, you are not the sun—it will one day burn itself out. You, dear one, are the eternal essence of Divine love.
Lesley, this is so beautifully and powerfully written. I have to tell you, though, the line that stood out for me (as if it were written in all caps…so it’s obviously MY learning) was, “I let go of my fear of failing my assignment and came into the Now.” Such a powerful metaphor!
Sending love….
Joan
Joan, I so appreciate your comment. And yes, that quote has a larger context that I hadn’t even considered. Thank you for pointing it out. It’s a perfect thing to keep in mind right NOW! Blessings to you.
We “are like the sun’s rays, which neither chase after, nor run from anything.” These are words I need to hear daily! Like The Big Empty, life is so full it explodes with lessons, yet if we are searching for “something” it cannot be found. Lesley, I HAVE to have a copy of your book. You are so profound your messages extend my contemplations to richer and deeper levels. Please let me know how to find a copy. Thank you for this latest blog!
Books are found here, Rudy.
http://www.amazon.com/Lesley-S.-King/e/B0034O3UZ6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_5?qid=1324930557&sr=8-5
The others on the website: https://lesleysking.com/books/books.html
I couldn’t find on amazon.com and there is no mention of them being available on her site, either. Hope you can find them.
Timothy, thank you for including the Amazon link. I so appreciate you joining in the talk here, and I am enjoying your presence on Facebook. As I said to Rudy below, all my previous published books deal with travel much more than spirituality. If you are interested, feel free to email me to be put on my notifications list rey@cybermesa.com. Otherwise, I will notify you through this blog. Happy adventuring!
Rudy, Thank you for your kind comment. I always enjoy what you have to add to my posts. In fact, the line you mention above came from a contemplation you and I shared, so thanks goes right back to you, my friend. Regarding my books, the link Timothy includes above will allow you to purchase any of them. However, they are all about travel, with some spirituality mixed in, but not like this new writing. My new book, based on this blog and other musings, will come out next year. If you would like, I can add you to my notifications list and you will receive updates. I will also announce new books on my blog. Feel free to notify me by email to be put on my notifications list: rey@cybermesa.com. So happy to hear you’d like a book.
What an awesome Blog! Wow Lesley1 Such great writing and very enjoyable! Thank you so much for sharing. “Solar flares licked off the surface as the giant mass pulsed with power.” How powerful and visual. I can see it.
Thank you, Colleen. I’m so happy to see you joining in the conversation. I look forward to reading your blog. Please keep me posted about your progress. Blessings to you!
Wonderful, as ever.
I just wanted to comment on the part about ‘You are not rich or poor.” I’ve noticed that whenever I do anything that is only about getting money – read ‘greed’ – it always doesn’t work. Whenever I do what I truly love, abundance flows in.
Thanks for your beautiful words, images and concepts.
You are so welcome, Qatana. I so appreciate your point! I have found the exact same to be true. Coming to really believe that and live it is an ongoing challenge. Thank you.
Thank you again dear soul for your Shabda expression through this wondrous blog. Am so appreciative of the deepening sound pouring through. Keep radiating your beautiful essence!!! It is truly a gift
XOXO
So happy to see your comment, Debra. Yes, as you say, “the deepening sound pouring through,” such a gift. I am blessed with your friendship!
This was so powerful. It took me right into an extremely spiritual setting. Thank you so very much for sharing your incredible insights.
Dear Nancy, Thank you for your beautiful comment. What a gift it is for me to have been a vehicle to help transport another beautiful soul! So happy to have you here. Blessings to you.