Dear Friends,
Today is the one year anniversary of this blog!! I first want to say thank you to each and every one of you for your support. I started this blog because I wanted to share some of the wisdom I’ve gleaned from having a spiritual practice. I wanted to create a community where we could help each other along the path. The topics I write about usually come from my daily life, ideas that are rooted in the mundane activities we all share but that contain universal spiritual principles. I hope this blog has given you some practical ways of deepening your own practice and a sense of being in it together. I am very grateful for the presence of each and every one of you.
I called this blog “Spirit Trail” because I liked the metaphor of the path, with all its twists and turns and ups and downs, it’s challenges and it’s rewards. Sometimes we fear what might be around the next bend; other times we get an expansive view. It’s not uncommon to take a wrong turn, or to have to repeat your steps. But ultimately we are all climbing the same mountain.
Whether you are conscious of it or not, you are on a journey of discovery. Your soul is on the path of enlightenment, a dawning of the full awareness of who you are as a spiritual being: a unique expression of god. Every person you meet on this journey has value to bring to your experience. Every experience you have serves your enlightenment in some way. This is going on around you and through you every day.
My story is your story. My particular dramas might be different than yours, but the tale is the same. Here we are, traveling together. I am playing the role of teacher/blogger, and you’re playing the role of student/reader. But the funny thing about being a teacher is that the roles often get reversed. So really I’m just reminding you of the real power that already exists in you. I’m standing here next to you, showing you the full picture of your life. Your life is a microcosm of the macrocosm of the universe.
Some of you may be asking, “Are we there yet? How do I know if I’m making spiritual progress?” Well, thankfully we know what it looks like further down the trail because a few brave and wise souls have already journeyed there and sent postcards back. All of these enlightened beings seem to share three qualities:
1. Peace. They have a profound sense and understanding of their connection to spirit and to all things, and they rest in that. They don’t panic, they don’t worry, and they’re not troubled or conflicted by all the things going around them. Even when things happen in the world that seem horrific, they somehow see all of our human drama from a higher perspective, knowing that no soul is ever lost and all good is guaranteed.
2. Compassion. All enlightened beings show compassion, which is love in action. They recognize our oneness and know that how you treat others is paramount to how you will be treated in return. Compassion is one of the first signs of spiritual maturity. They are forgiving. They’ve made enough mistakes in life to know that they cannot judge another person. We’re all doing the very best we can.
3. Wisdom. Those who have traveled further down the road hold a deep, abiding wisdom that cuts through fear and doubt. If they come to a rattlesnake on the path, they simple walk around it. They trust in knowing they are an aspect of god, and this gives them a power, a deep connection to the truth within.
So as we journey along, watch for these spiritual mile markers, a way of examining your own life and checking in with your progress. Cultivate these three qualities in your daily experiences. You are on the right path.
With love and gratitude from your fellow traveler,
Chandra
spirittrail 