Sharpening the Edge: A Personal Experience by Miguel Marques

Sharpening the Edge: A Personal Experience

by Miguel Marques 2013

A few weeks ago, a challenge was issued at a Tarot forum. Take two cards and find a mission impossible to meet and the way in which we could accomplish it. I took the 4 of Swords and the 6 of Cups, and without knowing why, started on a ramble that ended with a very simple statement: “to unite heart and mind into a single being and use the orientations of my guides in order to achieve a state of No-Mind that would allow me to strike down the current blocks in my life”.

As I wrote this, I felt this to be a worthy challenge. But then it hit me. People in the whole world dedicate their entire lives in pursuit of something I proposed to achieve in a week. I cursed the life out of me for my recklessness, always a good sign when you’re engaging in self awareness.

Mack once wrote that we’re very good at doing the impossible when we don’t see it as such [1]. With that in mind, I started to plan the week ahead. My first card was Swords, so the goal would be Sword related. Balance, Fluidity, Sharpness. Cups was the path, so Nourishment and Emotions would be my way there. Soho stated that only a clear mind can lead the body into doing what needs to be done [2]. My first approach was then meditation and piano practice. If meditation seems clear enough, piano practice came as a need to compliment the No-Mind state and put it in use in a real situation. How? Try doing different things with each hand at the same time. Different movements. Different rhythms. Applying a different force in each and every moment. Now, try to keep it coherent. Fluid. Balanced. That’s piano playing.

Meditation didn’t seem to help, so I switched to the Twin Hearts Meditation [3] and continued with the piano, from which came my first breakthrough. I was now on the third day when I realized that fluidity is everything and any constrain we stumble upon should be addressed with confidence and dexterity.

This was put to the test at the gym: doing a different exercise plan every day, where I wouldn’t know what came next. The objective would be to focus on each exercise, each movement, and let everything else go. Not thinking about time, exhaustion and what came next led me into a state where only that moment counted. And all my strength had to be applied there. In that moment. In every moment. By not thinking, I was able to do exercises I thought I couldn’t do and in doing them, I was impressing on my body a new code: “Don’t worry. Don’t think. Just do it and do it well”.

My second breakthrough came from the Meditation. In the Twin Hearts Meditation, you open your heart and crown chakras to the Universe/Supreme Being/Whatever you want to put here. And a higher energy does come down, whether you want it or not. If you’re searching for something, this energy will present itself in the form of a key. In my case, it came in the form of a sword. A bright sword capable of slashing every block I had built around me. I had asked for orientation, and I received a weapon. A flood of information entered my mind and reality came tumbling down.

Or so it seemed at the time.

Moore’s words about how swords are used to cut things down [4] with Soho’s words about putting your life behind the sword [2]. Inoue on how praying opens up a channel to the gods [5] alongside Mack’s view of praying as a form of talking to oneself [6]. How every goal we set for ourselves in unobtainable and we just move from one level to the next level, never once reaching the top of the mountain [5]. Morrison’s illustration of identity and non-identity; about is and isn’t [7]. Images kept pouring into my mind from all angles.

And then it stopped.

Ever since I know myself that I love comics.  I’ve been reading them for almost 30 years now and I’ve learned a great deal from them. I’ve learned about philosophy and art; reality and imagination. I’ve found references that put me on the path I am today. And if I’m the tarot reader that I am today, I owe it to them. For fuelling my imagination with every kind of image and training me into putting pictures together and filling in the blank spaces between two images with my intuition and my imagination. It seemed only fitting that my understanding would come from such a venue.

Realization came: there are no blocks. Only restrictions we put upon ourselves. Something I intimately knew for a very long time, before I let the outer world erase it from my mind.

Realization came and everyone of us is a god. Or maybe a shadow of a god that somehow forgot its power. Something we all can learn by connecting with our higher selves.

Fool from the Soulscapes Tarot

Realization came, and suddenly, the book of stories known as the Tarot was seen as the Minor Arcana, with the Major Arcana playing the part of a deux ex machina.

Realization came by a stroke of a sword.

Life has now resumed its pace. My friends say I have a new attitude this last few weeks. I became more focused and less preoccupied. As if nothing had importance except this very instant. People seem closer and more receptive than before. A new story has begun. One that starts with “once upon a time there was a Fool that believed anything was possible…”

© 2013 Enlightening Times All Rights Reserved

[1] David Mack, Kabuki: The Alchemy, Marvel Comics, 2009

[2] Takuan Soho, The Unfettered Mind, Shamballa Inc, 2012

[3] http://meditationontwinheartslive.com, as accessed on the 7^th June 2013

[4] Alan Moore, J. H. Williams III, Promethea: Book 1, Wildstorm, 2001

[5] Takehiko Inoue, Vagabond VIZBIG Edition 11, Viz, 2012

[6] David Mack, Kabuki: Metamorphosis, Image Comics, 2001

[7] Grant Morrison, Phil Jimenez, The Invisibles Vol. 4: Bloody Hell in America, Vertigo/DC Comics, 1998

Your Highest Good

 

The bit most people (conveniently) forget when they play with the Law of Attraction.

I love how the Law of Attraction has aided in the awakening process for so many people through-out the globe. Through the books, the film and all the wonderful coaches out there, millions learned to begin consciously cultivating their emotions to lift their vibrations to new heights and as they did they began to see, that they had more power than they’d ever previously imagined.

People began doing their shopping in new ways, and cosmic ordering lists became the new form of shopping list, and the world was aglow with stories of manifestation and it really was all good!
As people became more aware of how their energetic vibrations were contributing to the creation of their reality, they chose to get clearer and clearer and as they ascended the levels of consciousness, they got surer and surer that the lottery win they were manifesting, was getting closer and closer.

But, still the lottery win never came, and sometimes in it’s place were murky situations and events with co-creators in lower fields of consciousness showing up and creating merry hell in people’s lives. Because here’s the thing that many of the Law of Attraction brigade like to gloss over or simply delete from their reality, the Universe is always working in favour of Your Highest Good!
And let’s face it for most of us, a lottery win isn’t quite what we need to make us strive beyond our limits, to push our boundaries to learn how to love all that is, or to deliver the work that we came here to do.  In fact, for many it would have the opposite effect, even if they like to pretend to themselves otherwise.  And, doesn’t our desire for it, in fact show that we haven’t fully accepted that we actually have all the resources we need, now?

So here’s the thing, because, you know me, with me there’s always a thing lol!

In fact, here’s three things.

1. We weren’t giving the gift of awareness just so we could accumulate more stuff!  In fact, the converse is true. We were given this gift to show us how regardless of the external events of our lives, we can CHOOSE HAPPINESS!  That is where RESPONSIBILITY comes in.  RESPONSE-ABILITY, it really is about our ability to respond, not just about how we’re creating it all.  There is a higher power at play at all times. Shit will happen at times, there is no doubt about it. But it’s us that judge it as “shit” and by the end of this post you will see why there really is no “shit” stuff and how its only our judgement of it that creates the pain.

2.  We need to remember to let go of the how.  Over the last few weeks I’ve seen a few friends struggle to come to terms with events in their lives that have been brought about to fulfil INTENTIONS set by them, but as the circumstances of their lives are messier than they might like, they fail to notice that it is their INTENTION the Universe is responding to, so when something they judge as “rubbish” or “horrible” shows up they get stuck in a cycle of looking at what’s “wrong” with their vibration, that can allow them to attract this!  And, sometimes even get sucked into old cycles of beating themselves up, and some get so stuck in the lower vibratory cycles that they begin to think that it’s all a lot of old tosh and give up completely, this does however only usually last for a short time as their awakened heart keeps calling them, until they can ignore it no longer, and they once again they open themselves to the divine.

 

3. There are many causes creating multiple effects. In other words, it can be really tricky to see what need in you is being met when the hard stuff  happens, the secret to grace is having faith that whatever is happening is for your growth and expansion as a soul!  Just because someone vibrated into your world to play a role in something, doesn’t mean you’re on the same vibration as them. it just means that there is a  purpose being filled for each of you, in this coming together.  The lessons come in many forms and work on multi-levels of awareness and many are arranged before we even get here in the form of soul contracts.  We may have decided before we got here that in this experience we wanted to learn forgiveness, or the art of letting go for example, consciously we are unaware of this choice but on a soul level we still know this has been un-filled in this life-time and the circumstances and events will fall into place to enable you this opportunity for growth.  You may have chosen to reach Ascended Master level in this life and so the circumstances of your life will help you learn to detach from all external “stuff” of the World.  Do you see, how we aren’t always aware of what will manifest but yet it’s always for our highest good?

I want to leave you with these wise words from Swami Vivekananda who sums it up beautifully.  Before you read them, please do not allow any negative anchors to the word God get in your way. Remember that it is merely a label to define the undefinable and could just as easily be replaced with the words Love/Consciousness/Divine/Universe.

When I Asked God for Strength
He Gave Me Difficult Situations to Face

When I Asked God for Brain & Brown
He Gave Me Puzzles in Life to Solve

When I Asked God for Happiness
He Showed Me Some Unhappy People

When I Asked God for Wealth
He Showed Me How to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Favors
He Showed Me Opportunities to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Peace
He Showed Me How to Help Others

God Gave Me Nothing I Wanted
He Gave Me Everything I Needed.”

Swami Vivekananda

 

Rashelle Reid

 

©2012 copyright ~All Rights Reserved

www.rashellereid.com

What Will You Choose?

“There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts.”

Ghandi

As someone wonderful reminded me lately there is a fine line between hate and hope and although I hate to be the bearer of bad news, my hope in humanity’s ability to put an end to this nonsense, is too great for me not to share.

There was a deliberate goal of dumbing us down, not only in the US but throughout the World.
We have seen it with pharmaceuticals.
We have seen it with vaccines.
We have seen it with Fluoride.
We have seen it with geo-engineering.
We have seen it with food.
We have seen it with wars.
We are seeing it with work.
We know there is the technology to have free energy for all (and yep it gets hidden, again and again)
We are seeing it everywhere!!

Look to your neighbour, listen to other people’s stories, but most importantly LOVE each other, and you will see, this is not how it needs to be.

The World really is at a Choice Point and if we choose LOVE the path will be brighter for all of us. Do not be afraid to stand up and be counted, the World and humanity needs you. Answer the call of your heart, for me, for you, for all of us. We really are one, connected by the invisible energy that runs through each of us.

The time of force is gone now and we are entering a time when true power leads the way, that power lives within you and is hidden behind your beliefs, your insecurities and your repressed emotions.
Take a breath, look around you and see for yourself is this the World we really want to co-create. We can do better than this for each other, can we not?

For the record this is not an emotional reaction, I am at peace within me and my little World is such a crystal clear reflection of Love that I can see the inner work is paying off in dividends. And from this space of awareness I can see clearly that the illusion our politicians were serving us, is gone now!! Remember Ghandi, that little bald man with the glasses, Well he has a message to share with you.

 

“Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.”

Gandhi

YOU are the temple!!

If you were worshipping YOU, would you really go along with this nonsense?

Our natural state is LOVE.

Let go of the beLIEfs that have kept you trapped and BE who YOU are.

I know it’s scary to find out the World isn’t as you thought it was, I’ve been there and I'm still amazed every day by the many ways our power was kept hidden from us. BUT, and this is a big BUT, just like with the little things, everything we want is the other side of that fear.

I know it’s scary to talk about the things other people don’t want to hear, I’ve been there too, but it’s just another way of keeping us quiet, and let’s face it, it works.

I know there will be things you are ashamed off and wouldn’t want everyone to know, I’ve got them too, but again in the grand scale of what’s going on here, is a little embarrassment really that big a deal?

I don’t want my kids to turn round in 10 years and say “Mum, why didn’t you do anything?”

I want them to be able to look at me in the eye and say Mum, thank you, thank you and your generation for getting your shit together before it was too late.

I love people, I always have. I don’t just do it, because it’s the current buzz thing, it is just who I AM and I know it’s who you are too, before life and it’s many amazing ways of breaking us down and dis-connecting us from source got in the way. Well, that and the pursuit of happiness, chasing more stuff, or being stuck in the struggle for survival, which leads to a whole other story.

We have been conditioned, controlled and dis-empowered in so many ways, and maybe it’s all been for the purpose of remembering who we really are and is all just one big quantum illusion right enough and cool if it is, but here’s the thing, I am a multi-dimensional being and I have CHOSEN to BE HERE NOW, so that kinda tells me there’s a purpose in all this madness, and maybe that purpose is for ME to BE ME (That’s that magnificent expression part I mentioned earlier, yes, you are too ) and ME sees a big agenda that’s been pushed right under our eyes, hidden behind our line of sight, otherwise known as beliefs.

Again, I get it, I spent most of my life believing the government served the people LMAO! How dumb was I? And yet, being dumb is one thing I’ve only every displayed momentarily not consistently. Busy? Yes! Stressed? Yes! Scared? Of course! But, not now. I found ways to be at peace regardless of the external events of my life. I learned how to keep my vibration high by consciously cultivating emotions like love and appreciation and from this space of awareness your ability to face the madness head-on expands and you get stronger and more powerful with every step.
Be honest with yourself how much time do you really spend doing what you love?

What really makes your heart sing?

What would you do for your community if everything wasn’t so heavily legislated or you could afford to?

It’s no longer okay to say that’s just the way it is, it is the way we allow it to be!

I feel that we really are at a Choice Point here on Earth and I am so glad I have so much faith in our ability to step up and reclaim our power and when we do joining hands and saving our Planet from complete destruction before it is too late.

Fear keeps us stuck in our bubbles of perception where LOVE lifts us higher and higher so we can see the big picture clearly and when we do the path of purpose opens right up.
I CHOOSE LOVE, I HOPE YOU DO TOO.



Choice Point Full Movie available free – http://www.choicepointmovement.com/
I AM the change I want to see. And, WE ARE the miracle we were waiting on – http://the99percent.org/

Copyright Enlightening Times

The "End of Eire" by Thomas Sheridan

In December 2012, two Irish artists, Thomas Sheridan and Mark Higginbotham, came up with the idea for a film to document their personal outrage at the systematic conversion of their homeland from a once prosperous and culturally vibrant society into a Globalist taxation livestock farm under the yoke of crushing austerity measures imposed by unelected bureaucrats. Both were fully aware that the reason why this situation came about was a result of Irish politicians handing over the Irish nation; both assets and people to the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Irish political classes did this in order to protect both themselves and the CEOs of top Irish banks from going to jail for negligent fraud and compliance with corruption on a colossal scale. In doing so, the politicians who protected these banking officials committed what amounted to an act of late night high-treason by approving a multi-billion Euro bail-out without the consent nor the approval of the Irish population. Then the Irish mainstream media and ‘expert’ classes essentially told the Irish people that it was the best thing that ever happened to them and how they should be proud of being good slaves. A rotten cesspool of coagulated media and money tycoons telling us we should delight in being obedient indentured slaves on their plantation.

This act was a culmination of an on-going series of YES/NO constitutional referendums fiasco voting, in which the Irish voters were continually told by the unelected oligarchs of the European Union to hand over their national sovereignty and to keep voting until the EU Commission got from the Irish electorate the results they wanted. All during this transition from Irish democracy to EU imperialism, the Irish mainstream media, the public sector trade union leadership, the economic ‘experts’—whose advice wrecked the economy—all the major political parties, women’s organisations, civil and environmental rights groups, along with civil servants being paid to post pro-EU propaganda (in the style of Orwellian ‘Ministry of Truth’ Inner Party members) bombarded the Irish consciousness with pro-European Union/Globalist fear-based propaganda tactics which would have made Joseph Goebbels giggle with delight.

In the end, the Irish voter was so traumatised from the incessant propaganda from the lavishly overpaid RTE (Ireland national broadcaster) ‘stars’ that they eventually gave in and acquiesced to the interrogation of the collective Irish psyche from the pro-EU factions in the Irish media, business, public sector and chattering classes.

Then the horror really began…

Not only were the banking and political criminal classes who created this situation now free to enjoy lavish taxpayer pensions, as well as all the free time they needed to partake in golf at their exclusive private membership clubs and all taxpayer funded, but now the Irish population was to be subjected to draconian austerity measures (poverty) and increased taxation. The majority of these taxes were precision-aimed, with psychopathic savagery at the working and middle classes who were to almost exclusively carry the entire burden of the Irish Globalist elite‘s incompetence and treason. An elite who were being protected and pampered in luxury and freedom in the form of a golden handshake for destroying Irish political, economic and cultural sovereignty.

The result of this frustration and anger concerning the Orwellian-style ‘vaporization’ of the Irish social and cultural identity became manifest in the film ‘The End of an Éire’. The project was shot in and around Galway city in April 2013, as the location seemed a suitable metaphor for the end of the Ireland that was, and the beginning of the Ireland which will evolve out of this purposely inflicted trauma. Galway is both the last and first city in Europe depending on how you look at it. It represents a watershed between empires, cultures, geography and the past, present and future.

Both Thomas Sheridan and Mark Higginbotham gave careful consideration to the artistic nature and energy of this film. According to Thomas Sheridan—author of the cult classic ‘Puzzling People: the Labyrinth of the Psychopath‘—who is the central player in the documentary, "We wanted this film to stand out. It’ll be like nothing your average RTE or SkyNews viewer has ever seen or heard before. We want to undo the subliminal mind control and propaganda which has people so confused. We want to use the techniques of the Globalists and throw it right back into their faces." The purpose of this film is not just to tell an Irish story, but to demonstrate how the events in Ireland are but a microcosm of the fate awaiting all of us, in all our nations. However, ‘The End of an Éire’ is not just about the causes and the effects, but also points the viewer back to the path of evolution. This is not a story of the death of one nation, but the reawakening of the human potential to walk away from the imposed prisons of the mind and walk towards personal and social liberation.

‘The End of an Éire’ will be released in Summer 2013 and will be free to watch on-line.

For more information: www.thomassheridanarts.com

© 2013 Enlightening Times All Rights Reserved

CREATIVITY and THE LIBERATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS... WITH THOMAS SHERIDAN

https://www.facebook.com/events/455751884516234/

• • 

    Thursday, 27 June 2013
  • 

    19:30 until 21:30

• Thomas Sheridan author of the cult classic Puzzling People: the Labyrinth of the Psychopath and he will be giving a unique presentation at Zu Studios entitled ‘Creativity and the Liberation of Consciousness‘. The talk will demonstrate how psychiatry often completely misdiagnoses the Shamanic Awakening in people in order to label them as being mentally ill. In many cases, this ‘illness’ is an opening up of consciousness which is to be celebrated and encouraged though creative expression. Both Van Gogh and William Blake would be medicated out of their creative insights if they were alive to day. Both of these artists were akin to Shaman ahead of their time. More importantly, we all have this same potential for playing our part in the liberation of the human psyche. Suggested donation £8 - £10 www.thomassheridanarts.com

Perspectives - Glasgow

Monday Night Perspectives - Dawn Breslin and Rashelle Reid

Monday isn't exactly my favourite day of the week and so I was more than happy to go along to Anne Hughes's new venture 'Monday Night Perspectives' at The National Piping Centre in Glasgow. Anne Hughes the founder of Perspectives was radiant and welcoming. The venue was beautiful, steeped in heritage with a peaceful ambience to match, and with the added magic of a piper at the door to greet guests, I'd say it was the perfect venue.

First to take to the floor was Rashelle Reid, who was giving her first talk - It's Just Me. If there were any first time nerves they certainly didn't show as Rashelle talked about Gratitude, Loving ourselves, Moving through our fears, Living a life of Purpose and Truth and empowering ourselves. Her talk was both Inspiring and motivational. Rashelle connects on the heart level and this really came through last night. Her authenticity is refreshing and her bright zest for life and helping others apparent.

Watch a clip here of our very own Rashelle as she speaks through her fear and talks of the vibration of purpose and truth.

Next up sharing her insights was Dawn Breslin. Dawn is a very Inspiring and motivational speaker also, who connects on the heart level and has a genuine desire to help others. Dawn talked about Loving and honouring ourselves, Purpose, her own personal experiences and the Art of Surrender and letting go. There was a beautiful vulnerability and authenticity within Dawns talk and she also gave lots of practical tips based on her own learning's and experiences. With a gentle energy she powerfully held the space and energy in the room. Most touching was her obvious support for Rashelle and a genuine desire to see and celebrate her success, though they'd never met they complimented each other beautifully.

I have a totally new Perspectives on Monday nights now. Thank you Anne Hughes, Dawn Breslin and Rashelle Reid.

Jan Ferguson, Good Vibrations

© 2013 Enlightening Times All Rights Reserved

For more information and to book your tickets for the next event featuring Sandy Newbigging creator of Peace for Life, visit Perspectives on FB

Multi-dimensional Energy of Flowers

When I first seen this picture, my initial thought was had it started raining between this picture and the last, you know how some of us like to tick of the logical explanation first, but very quickly I remembered the scorching sun-shine that accompanied this picture.

My imagination ran wild as potential and possibilities of spirit and life force and fairies and the spiritual Earth merging with the physical Earth and heaven on Earth being born in this very moment.  A friend offered me another perspective and I found it incredibly interesting so I thought I'd share it with you.

"In this instance a particle of light in another dimension is trying to contact its own species here on Earth, it has observed the Harmonic is close to that of this plant and is sonically radiating thought precepts as particulates (Senses) to try and get a reply.The plants harmonic supplied the original particle with Light from the Inner Light spectrum thus attracting attention. there will be book coming out next year about this subject, which will lift the lid off inter-dimensional communications of the species. It's all about celestial vestment really..."Douglas Thornhill

We'd be delighted if you share your insights and imaginations with us too.

Namaste'

Rashelle

© 2013 Enlightening Times All Rights Reserved

March Against Monsanto, Glasgow 2013

March Against Monsanto on the 25th May 2013 was a huge success with 1 million people around the World joining their voices in unity to echo a resounding... NO!

We joined Scotland Against Monsanto in Glasgow to find out why so many people are taking to the streets to voice their dissent against Monsanto. You probably won't hear about this on the news, so make sure to inform yourself.

"The corporations, the fascist, corporate government we've got, own the media too." 

Andy Inglis, Scotland Against Monsanto

What we heard in Glasgow that day was real voices, not affiliated with any political party not owned by any corporations and transcending boundaries of age, gender, sexuality and race. Why they were there, well as Lynn Bunny Paws tells us so succinctly at 19 minutes "If you eat food, it affects you...it effects every single person on this planet."   

"If they cannae breathe it, we cannae eat it!" S.A.M.

Scotland Against Monsanto

Organic Scotland

Global Movement