A Lesson from the Ancestors
Over the past couple weeks, I have felt overwelmed by the Spirit of the ancestors. Almost daily, information has been rushing my way that led me to revisit some of the earlier historical appearances of the spiritual principles that have become so mainstream. The information that I was guided to review was primarily focused on Ancient Kemetic (Egyptian) Spirituality and African-American spirituality during slavery and the civil rights movement. The central lesson that I was being reminded of was clearer as the weeks went on.
Last week, I shared about reading Howard Thurman’s work (Martin Luther King, Jr’s spiritual advisor and mentor), and my post highlighted his amazing poem, “More Loving in my Heart.” While soaking up Thurman’s work, I was also guided to re-read the story of Ausar (Osiris), whose story, in part, shares striking similarities to the story of Jesus. That same day, I re-read some of the book, “Ma’at: 11 Laws of God,” which is based on Ancient Kemetic (Egyptian) Spirituality. I first purchased this book in college, along with “Metu Neter: The Great Oracle of Tehuti and the Egyptian System of Spiritual Cultivation“, “Of Water and the Spirit“, “African Spirituality“, “Opening to Spirit” and other books that I thought would help me understand the spiritual and cultural traditions of my ancestors. At that time, I couldn’t fully understand everything but I must have picked some of it up subconciously because when I picked it up again last week it made perfect sense.
I noted how similar the language in Ma’at:11 Laws of God was to the language of A Course in Miracles, which I’m also currently immersed in (yes, I’m reading a lot – TV time has mostly been replaced with reading :-)). A Course in Miracles mentions that there are many paths to the Truth, and that it shows up in many forms, but the Truth itself does not change. Ma’at:11 Laws of God states that Truth is the Truth – it is not something to be believed in, but just is. So, what is the Truth? Both books sum it up in different ways, but the general idea is that we are not separate and our true state is the Love and Peace of God.
“Your nature is an unconquerable peace, therefore nothing or no one in the world can be against you. All experiences come to you to promote your reclamation of peace, that you may in turn, acquire wisdom and power.” ~Ma’at: The 11 Laws of God (Law of Ausar)
I have to admit, at the time of purchasing all those books on African Spirituality back in college, I was not coming from a place of love. And I certainly wasn’t in a place to receive the idea that we are all one in God. I was holding on to resentment over the fact that I had to dig so deeply to uncover the spiritual and cultural traditions that were stripped of my ancestors. I was angry over the fact that the full history was not being shared in school, and that I had to piece it together on my own. I projected this anger into the world and it showed up as ill feelings toward white people, particularly those who I viewed as treating me differently because of the color of my skin, and the desire to outwardly show my pride for “my people.”
“Man must have no preferences, and must be impartial and equal to all people and events. It must be realized that no one or no situation can be against one. This is the true meaning of Selflessness, and At-Onement, and establishes the foundation to spiritually share in God’s omniscience and omnipotence (to be able to spiritually affect others because we are a part of them and they us!).” ~Ma’at: The 11 Laws of God
I did not make rude comments publicly, but in my inner world I held onto bitter feelings that I carried with me into the workplace and other daily experiences. I viewed every negative interaction as an example of the racism in the world, not realizing it was actually coming from me. Since that time, I have forgiven (I talk more about this in my “Forgiveness and Politics” post) and am much further along in viewing all people in the Light. So, I was able to revisit these books and feel grateful for the truth being expressed in such a way that it reaches all people in the language they can best understand, and from the Teacher they can best receive it from.
It has been said by many spiritual teachings that we are not human beings having a spiritual experience but we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Our identity is in God and not the color of our skin, our brief history on earth, our religion, our worldly traditions, our political party, our economic status, etc. As much as the atrocities committed throughout history have pained me, I can now see the actions of the offenders as the call for love that it was.
All actions are either an expression of the Love of God or a call for the Love of God. (Paraphrased from A Course in Miracles)
There is no room for hate to enter when we remember to only see each other in Truth. Then we move beyond borders and territories, mine vs. yours, and we remember that we are all one. God created us in His image and likeness. God did not create separation – that is a concept of the ego. Slavery is an extreme demonstration of what happens when people align themselves with ego instead of the Spirit, or when people align themselves with their human identity instead of their spiritual Identity. No one who remembers their true Self, Who is one with God, could bring harm to another because they know that what you do unto others is done to yourself.
I’m not saying we have to all run up to those that have done wrong to us and give them hugs, hold hands, and sing kumbaya (althought we can if we’re so inclined :-)). The love that we can answer their “call for love” with can come in the form of compassion toward them for how strongly they are trapped in the games of the ego (competition, hate, fear, idolatry, anger, jealousy, etc.). From that perspective, we can move forward and still uplift one another while also not separating ourselves from people because of seeming differences – differences that do not even exist in the realm of Spirit. We cannot say we are all spiritual beings in one breath and then condemn others, or think we are better than others, in the next. We have to choose which we believe is real (spritual or human), and bring that perspective to our day-to-day interactions.
I have stated before that I believe we will not experience peace in the world, or the true experience of being “in the world, but not of the world,” until we have peace in the mind. I have definitely seen it firsthand in my own life. I didn’t start seeing the Light in others until I removed darkness from within myself. I didn’t start finding peace in spirituality until I stopped viewing other paths as wrong (or stolen). This is why my #1 passion right now is freeing my own mind from the mental slavery of the ego, and sharing my lessons along the way with anyone who has ears to hear. (Note: the ego, as I’m referring to it, is the thought of separation – believing in the idea of an individual self that is separate from God)
I am grateful for the ancestors helping me purge any additional feelings of resentment regarding spiritual paths, or the origin of religion, that I may have been holding onto so that I can “be more loving in my heart.” And, most importantly, so I can remember the Truth – we are One.
Keep Shining!
~Kandace
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Kandace Jones
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BLOG: http://kandacejones.wordpress.com
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About the Author: Kandace Jones
I used to live life shackled by fear, doubt, and worry. I put on a happy face while navigating my day-to-day duties, but I was emotionally drained, stressed, and unhappy. When I hit rock bottom, and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I was determined to live life differently. I knew there had to be another way. Out of that determination, and guidance from Spirit, the "Living in the Light" blog was born. It documents my spiritual journey out of the darkness and into the Light. After nine months of publicly sharing my journey, and consciously releasing my attachment to the ego, I experienced a powerful spiritual awakening. I went from living in fear, doubt, worry, and stress to complete inner peace. My greatest passion has become assisting others on their own journey to inner peace.
My spiritual memoir, From Stress to Peace: An Intimate Journal on the Journey from Living in Darkness to Living in the Light, is available now on Amazon and BN.com. Click the tabs at the top of the page to learn more about the From Stress to Peace 21-Day Challenge, Living in the Light Retreats, 1:1 sessions, and the Living in the Light Community - all of which are designed to support your journey to inner peace. I appreciate you taking the time to visit the blog and look forward to supporting you in any way I can!