Category: World Journey

I have meditated ongoingly, for over four years now, with eyes anew — Eyes that now envision Abundance in a much more expanded way than I could even glimpse before Life called on me to release my self-conscious efforts to achieve, and enjoy the freedom of unfettered Being.  

What a relief! From what? For one thing, from times that advanced my concerns over finances. 

Such times posed enough of a distraction that I could too easily lose resonance with the robust Essences of Abundance– not only Prosperity, but moreover, naturally inherent Abundances of:

Health & Wellness of Being, Happiness & Love of Life,
Vibrant Energy (Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual), as well as a
Balance of Satisfaction Now & a Clear Expectancy of What Can Be.

I am reminded of a story that imparts powerful significance:
More than a century ago, a young, rookie newspaper reporter — new to town and filling in for a last-minute substitution in the paper’s newsroom — was hastily assigned to do an interview. That chance meeting was (as was later journaled), “when the Hand of Destiny reached out.”

The young reporter in 1908 was Napoleon Hill — the now-legendary author who ushered in a new philosophy of personal achievement central to a “success movement” in the last century. 

The man he met was Andrew Carnegie — Steel magnate, and the richest man alive at the time. Amidst the 73-year-old millionaire’s 64-room mansion in Manhattan, Carnegie evidently told robust tales of his achievements — except one still not certain to involve Napoleon Hill himself. 

That was until Carnegie, in fact, proposed an intriguingly futuristic venture with him in mind:
“The opportunity to pioneer the world’s first practical philosophy of individual achievement.”

“I will introduce you to men who can and will collaborate with you in its organization,” Carnegie stated, then asked, “Do you want the opportunity? And will you finish the job if I give it to you?”

“Yes!” Napoleon proclaimed without hesitation. “I’ll undertake the job — and I will finish it!”

At last, Carnegie, the master commander, presented a defining challenge, with this question:
“If I give you this opportunity, are you willing to devote 20 years of your time to research the causes of success and failure without pay, earning your own living as you go along?”

When the generation’s most powerful businessman saw that Napoleon was beyond startled — suddenly nonplussed, perplexed, confused, and bewildered — Carnegie explained,”It is not unwillingness to supply the money. It is my desire to know if you have in you the natural capacity to ‘go the extra mile’ — that is, to render service before trying to collect for it.”

Indeed, Napoleon willingly and ably met Andrew Carnegie’s mandate with sustained action:
He went on to design and organize an American philosophy of personal achievement.

For the next 20 years, he Interviewed such men as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, Theodore Roosevelt, John Rockefeller, and many other leaders and innovators.

From those teachings came “Think and Grow Rich” — considered by many to be the greatest success book ever written. It offered essential principles for improving one’s health, wealth, and success — Theorems as powerful and pertinent today as when they were drawn 70 years ago.  

What I see in this story — and what determined my sharing it with you now — derives from a knowing that my own experience is similar in essence to that of Napoleon Hill’s, depicted here.

Factual elements include this particularly notable similarity (herein below):
Hill spent 20 years without salary, interacting with people at the front edge of their expert fields. He received varied sources of support, increasing as his focused purpose gained momentum.     

I myself spent more than 20 years without salary, but with a livelihood supported by a network of intentional communities, where I worked with people at the front edge of ontological experience.

Each of the experiences (both Napoleon Hill’s and mine) was perfectly destined for each of us.

In the end, I realize that my own resonance with each of the Essences of Abundance has been, is now, and will ever be precisely what I let It Be. May Abundance Fully Appear for Us, Each & All. 

Yours Contently — PenDell

A common definition of Truth is this: “The property of being in accord with fact or certainty. In everyday language, truth is typically ascribed to things that represent the reality in beliefs, propositions, or declarative sentences. Truth is usually held to be the opposite of falsehood.”

Yet where do the essences of Truth actually abide? And by what means are they sustained?

The words truth and fact are seen often as being interchangeable. And yet they are not … 

A fact is defined as something that is known, proven to be true, then able to be agreed upon. Or, in select instances, it is information used for reporting news, for evidence, or as a part of a publication.

Yet after remarkably short spans of time and repeating, facts may well get blurred into fiction — beliefs or statements (often inadvertent) that are false, yet still accepted as truth.

As you saw in our previous blog post, “Care with Origin Myths”, what seem like factual answers come to you in various forms, including myths that, over time, become entrained sources of legends, folk tales, or other determinant patterns of concept.

Actually, Truth is of quite a different nature than fact. It is a powerful element that sublimely imbues a Soul’s deep feeling realm, self-governed thought, and honed physique with currents of Love and Life.

Being constantly and contently aware of Truth is by no means dependent upon external fact-finding for assurances of verity in one’s ongoing experiences. Rather, the Spirit of Truth bestows Divine Illumination that compels a uniquely deep love for the Source Energy within one’s Highest Self.

Here follows two meditative exercises that I originally generated and have found useful in my Energy work, specifically with “Emanation-Actuated Resonance” (i.e. “EAR” training).

The first mediation, taken from 1 Corinthians 13, beautifully describes those Essences of Love. I suggest that you meditate, morning and evening, with the following text in front of you: 

“Love is patient, Love is kind.
Love does not envy, It does not boast, It is not proud. It does not dishonor others.
Love is not self-seeking; It is not easily angered; It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with Truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

This second exercise introduces a simple, down-to-earth (yet telling) set of questions for you to ask yourself alone, in privacy and meditative quietude. Eight questions await you (herein below):

— What is your earliest memory?
— When did you first fall in love? With whom, or with what – a lifestyle, pursuit, vision? What?
— How has your life been different from that which you envisioned earlier on?
— Who has been kindest to you in your life?
— What are the most important lessons you have learned in life? From whom (if applicable)?
— If you could forever hold onto the most treasured memories in your life, what would they be?
— What does your future hold?
— How would you like to be remembered?

The Ever-Sustaining Field of Your Respected, Protected Soul with Your Highest Self Is …
Where TRUTH Abides

Life on earth requires translation, interpretation, mitigation, organization, fortification ….  Then again, does it really? Why would it? 

Life’s requirements, along with its rewards, have been “scribed” (journaled in writing) down through the ages. And the writers had imaginations that could overflow into “origin myths” — myths that, over time, become entrained sources of legends, folk tales, fairy tales and the like,  with icons — heroic and villainous. All were written in a multitude of languages and dialects.

And all the while, countless words have been spoken by millions, if not billions, of people every day, with but a fraction of understanding shared and acknowledged.

An initial origin myth for mankind involved Adam & Eve. Fear and confusion beset Adam when he beheld the Garden of Eden in the cool of the Day, yet he could only glimpse it through the narrowed view of time/space limitations that he & Eve had manifested by and for themselves.

Another origin myth, familiar to avid Old Testament readers, is the Tower of Babel. According to the story, a united human race in the generations after Noah & the Great Flood, who spoke a single language, migrated to the land of Shinar. Once there, they decided to build a city with a tower they thought was tall enough to reach to heaven.

At this point in the narrative, a telling element surfaces: At some later date, this  (soon to be enduring) origin myth was altered to depict a “God” now personified and strikingly similar to a younger strain of human Beings. 

Although fraught with opinions and attitudes susceptible to external factors — such as, in this instance, the crowd of idol worshippers gathered at the foot of their lofty tower! — this vengeful god was a supreme authority who could summon ranges of power far beyond mere mortals!

As the story culminates — “God”, frowning down upon their untoward city and tower, confounds their speech so that they can no longer understand one another, and then scatters them across the world. In the end, the legendary title for this realm was changed to “Babel” — emulating the babble of the people’s incomprehensible attempts to even communicate together, much less agree. 

So, hold on for a second: Where does Truth actually abide, and by what means is it sustained? Mercifully, the truly eternal Present Moment inherently expresses everlasting (hence outlasting) Patience with human Being, and nothing closely akin to vengeance. And hence, it waits for Truth to be manifested and expressed on earth by willing and able human Beings like us. 

A relatively recent origin myth centers around Saint Patrick, who became one of Christianity’s most widely known figures, as well as the namesake of “St. Patrick’s Day”, which was celebrated this week (on March 17), both in Ireland and America.

An intriguing element, in this general vein of origin myths, is as follows: Whereas Saint Patrick has been ongoingly acknowledged as the Patron Saint of Ireland, the alive Patrick was not actually Irish. He was born in Britain, not Ireland, to wealthy parents in the fourth century AD.

Yet, at the age of 16, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family’s estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity — until he managed to escape and disappear by living like a roving shepherd in the remote fields of others.

Lonely, afraid, and turning to religion for solace, he reportedly heard a voice — which he believed to be God’s — speaking to him in a dream compelling him to become a missionary and to convert all willing people of Ireland to Christianity.

Much that has been written about his rather surreal experience, and others of St. Patrick’s ensuing visions and miracles have been seen as mythic. Thus, St. Patrick is still regarded as iconic and a model of the proud bearing of other Irishmen made whole by real-life examples.

In that wise, half (23 out of 46) of the Presidents of the United States boast some measure of Irish heritage. Among them were Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, and Harry Truman. The Presidents in my lifetime have included JFK, LBJ, Gerald Ford, the two George Bushes, Ronald Reagan, Barak Obama, and our current President, Joe Biden. 

As to our original question earlier in this post: “Where does Truth actually abide, and by what means is it sustained?”

Often, such depth of longing for truth is sincerely queried with skepticism (yet with care to avoid being suspicious or cynical) in light of a worldview that might appear to be saturated with highly-managed misinformation that flatters its “pros” and disparages its “cons” — all, loudly unleashed far ahead of accurate fact-finding — nevermind being even close to ways that would help one discern Truth.

In light of the posturing of other present-day “pseudo-myths” continually laid out for mass attention and hardy consumption, is there enough time and space for careful consideration of the effects of potential origin myths on the rational, self-governed thoughts, attitudes, and actions of those in generations here now — alive, growing, maturing, and envisioning being character-driven leaders in the World’s future?

Well now, let’s take a deep, deep breath … Such mental and philosophical calisthenics (as are those with which we just exercised in the last two paragraphs) will not spasm into paralyzing conundra, IF you and I each simplify any questions we have for “the World” — simplify them to do what?

To answer, for our own individual selves, two (2) straightforward questions:

• What, in this present moment, is most needed in my world? and …
• What must I do now to be able to provide for that world — no more, no less?

 NOTE: These can come off like trick questions, or actually be easy to traverse …
The “lead line” to the latter, easy-to-traverse approach might sound like this:

“In each present moment — with each deep, deep breath —
I will let the Currents of Life appear to my Highest Awareness
In Their own good time, rhythm, style, and magnitude.”

In next week’s blog post, we will further explore “Where Truth Abides”
Best Regards for now … — PenDell

I was on my brisk “power walk” around our neighborhood one morning, when I observed a young dad with his little boy out on their front lawn, and a football-sized rock at their feet. As I slowed and strolled by, I heard the dad say, with the vivid excitement that a young child can really discern, “Let’s put bright colors here on this big, gray rock!”

Wide-eyed, his son answered, just as full-throated, “We Can Do It Quick, like Mommy says!” — to which they giggled together with fulfilled glee. (As did I, a transparent trespasser traipsing by!)

As I returned to walking, the sound of the little boy’s pure, innocent words and his father’s warm delight curiously reminded me of a long-ago moment when I met with my mentor to ask him a painful question at a vulnerable time for me: “What can I rightly say or do, if an aggressive person corners me and names me a selfish, self-righteous, egotistic jackass?”

After silently gazing at me, this man — in process of becoming a wise mentor who will guide me in ways of creative action on principle — replied, “Well, I would be compelled to Do Something, ANYthing for SOMEbody Else, and Quickly — the Sooner the Better! I would allow the ‘dis-easy’, insecure pride in Self to relax, be at ease, and open up to new habits of concept, action, and a personal investment that can and will become downright contagious — in You and far beyond.”

When I stared back at him breathlessly (for what felt like eternity), he smiled gently and added, “I have found over the years that when I am kind, humble, and interested in what I can do for others, then I see in others a mirror of my best self. The ease of that awareness brings people together, even if we think at first that we are drastically different from each other. Just try it out.”

That experience was life-changing for me as, over time, I saw myself nurturing a new outlook of my fellow men and women. Nowadays, I find that — regardless of the many distractions and seeming disruptions that life experience might deliver — two simple, basic truths prove out:

++ Most people are fundamentally fair-minded, kind, and generous; and furthermore …

++ Basic human instinct is not dog-eat-dog selfishness, but social cooperation and sharing.

Such is demonstrated in an article titled “Timeless Truths for Trying Times” from the monthly mailing, “Hightower Lowdown”, on the experimental work of political philosopher John Rawls.

“John Rawls has conducted many sessions of exercises to find out how all sorts of people envision a just society. He asked participants to draw up the ethical underpinnings for an ideal social structure, focusing on principles and strictures that best serve their own interests.

“Rawls put only one restriction on this otherwise free-wheeling exercise: The social engineers were to operate under what he called “The Veil of Ignorance”: None of them would know who they would be in the society they designed. Race, income, sexuality, education, immigration status, disability, age, religion, neighborhood … All would be luck of the draw.

“Over and over, participants from every social status and ideology designed worlds with deep, broad egalitarian structures to ensure that the least well-off, most marginalized person would be treated justly. After all, they themselves might just be that person.”

I, for one, call upon myself to manifest and express this same stance of attitude and outlook to be moment-by-moment attributes that attend my purpose for being on Earth here and now.

And I welcome your agreement with me therein … 
Warmest of Regards, as always — PenDell

“Genius!

“A frequently used word, it’s a rare and precious anomaly in the scope of human ability. Throughout our known history, individual geniuses have uncovered solutions and illuminated possibilities for humanity that might otherwise have remained unrealized.” (As was observed by Lily Serna, an Australian Mathematician and interviewer for the podcast, “Decoding Genius”.)

Today (20 November, 2020), the WHO (World Health Organization) was showing the USA as #1 worldwide in having cases confirmed as testing positive for COVID-19 — totaling over 11 Million. 

Amidst all the fear and foreboding over this current worldwide pandemic — whilst prolonged bluster and preoccupied bloviating ensues in American politics — it is my privilege to celebrate  even-more-rare genius when it is experienced and expressed with true, non-assuming humility.

^{Humble Genius (credit @jamie__macpherson from Unsplash)}

Humility: A trait of an avid genius with an acute mind, a heart aware of others, and a clear spirit.

Two Americans epitomize this noble trait amidst what may seem to be “superhuman”. One of them was Katherine Johnson — among very few NASA-level mathematicians. As was depicted in the movie, “Hidden Figures”, Katherine was a pioneer — not only for African American women (who were physically and socially segregated and disrespected, if not completely ignored, in the 1950’s) — but also a uniquely vital asset to the nation’s space program itself.

Katherine was the sole mathematician who derived the calculations that put John Glenn safely into orbit; and later, for the first manned spaceflight and moon landing with Alan Shepard. While taking seriously the precise need for accuracy that NASA missions required, she honed her own long-held passion for elements of both art and science in the practice of mathematical thinking.

When an awe-struck interviewer asked Katherine about the wonders of her NASA experience, she simply replied, “When you put bright people in a room and they had something to do, they worked on it until they got it done. I believed that I was where I was supposed to be.”

When she was asked about the many accolades received for her work at NASA — including a building named in her honor at the Langley Research Center — humble genius Katherine spoke  simply: “It was a nice tribute. I don’t know what all the fuss was about. I was just doing my job.”

This month, Katherine Johnson passed away, after 101 years as a brilliant blessing to Mankind. 

The other American I wish to highlight was John Evans, the second territorial governor of Colorado in 1862. David Halaas, of the Colorado Historical Society, has described Evans as “a physically striking man; And his appearance was made all the more remarkable by his penchant for carrying a block of cedar and a knife, always ready to whittle his way through any meeting or street corner chat.”

And my own research reveals a man of many talents, and powerful abilities for achievement: Evan’s involvement in the growth of Colorado encompassed his running of banks, building railroads, investing in business and mining ventures, and founding the University of Denver.

After ordering a survey of Berthoud Pass for a possible railroad route through the mountains, Evans petitioned Congress to commit to build the Union Pacific Railroad through Colorado; lobbied for federal troops to assure its safe passage; and negotiated a treaty with the Utes.

In honor of his services, the Colorado legislature gave Evans’ name to one of the highest peaks on the front range of the Rocky Mountains west of Denver — “Mount Evans”.

Acknowledging these two fellow human beings and their “Superhuman” achievements (in timely detail that fits our current times) makes me acutely aware of how the  powerful trait of Humility greatly helps integrate the unique creative genius we each manifest and express here on Earth.

Let Us Acknowledge & Embrace the Especial Facets of Humble Genius Inherent in Each of Us! 

Take Good Care, Until We Greet Again …
— PenDell