Since we believe in and associate so strongly with form, when we learn that form is not fundamental and awareness itself is primary, we may make the mistake of thinking that spirit is something abstract or ephemeral. We may make the mistake of thinking that “no form” or “beyond form” means “nothing” or “not very real.” In fact, formless aliveness is the completely tangibly rich wellspring of Being from which all realities of form spring! Some of those realities are clearly perceived as being far “more real” than the Earthly experience when you are there. And even those are ultimately transcended by the rich realness of Beingness itself.

While this may sound abstract now, your whole Being is full of far, far more than you may be able to conceive of with Earthly ideas. And that fullness is rich, and alive!

When you attempt to let go of the Earthly ideas and associations, do not be discouraged by the initial apparent emptiness of the silence. Often one must first be surrendered to silence before the extremely tangibly real wellspring that dwells beneath and within it can arise on its own. That process is done not as a search for more form (more thoughts, or feelings, or objects), but as a search for what is actually real in the alert present moment. It is an investigation of the present moment for exactly what it is; it is a conscious exploration of the aliveness itself that is always present bearing silent witness to every experience. That aliveness is real- and rather than being nothing, or some things, it is full of everything!

All things are connected: you, me, the seat you are sitting in, the sky outside, the screen or page you are looking at right now, and even the thoughts of the person next to you are all connected to each other. All things are connected because at their deepest root, all things are Source. There are no exceptions. “Source,” or “God,” is just a word– but truly it is beyond any name and definition, because all form itself exists within it. Source is conscious and alive, the great and loving I Am- and you and I are part of that, precious individuations of The One. We are forever a part of its Light, even as we exercise our individuation through experiences of separation. And there are few places in Creation where separation can be more starkly experienced than right here on Earth.

The world we live in is a real experience of the illusion of separation. We are not actually separate. But we have adopted the illusion of separation for purposes that are often beyond our human understanding. We have committed to all the definition that goes along with the human condition: we have committed to being biological, temporally constrained (bound to time), and subject to the laws of physics and discreet location (distance). None of those things are fundamental. Distance is not fundamental, linear time is not fundamental, biology is not fundamental. What is fundamental is our awareness, our spirit, our living consciousness itself! Because consciousness is a part of every experience everywhere, and because we are consciousness, we are connected to every single other thing in all of Creation!

But the multiverse of form is not “perfect.” We as spirits, who seek to engage in the integration of experience and to participate in all that is occurring, are not necessarily “optimized” for any given context or set of constraints. In all the many varied experiences we find ourselves, no matter the reality system or lifetime, there is one “primary action” that remains constant: our intent. We always have the power to choose things, in accordance with the “rules” and context of whatever reality we are participating in. The decisions available to us may change drastically depending on a myriad of factors, but always the action of consciousness itself to choose something remains.

When intent operates in a way that is supportive of the whole, and is in alignment with the unity that exists at the foundation of all things, we call that love. When intent operates in a way that is divisive, or promotes the illusion of separation by prioritizing the self over others, we call that fear. Every intent exercised in our world is either a movement towards a more integrated, expansive, and mutually supporting state of manifestation (one that is more in alignment with our native fundamental unity); or away from it.

This is why love and fear are the two great themes in spirituality. Love reflects the power and perfect unity of our true nature; fear reflects the incomplete, non-fundamental, and ultimately powerless illusion of separation. Loving intent supports the other, and is unity-promoting; fearful intent supports the illusory separate self, and is separation-promoting. Since separation is not fundamental, and not reflective of what we truly are, we suffer when we act from fear. Our experience on Earth currently includes a great churning cacophony of suffering because as a whole, most of us exercise fearful intent, rather than loving intent, every day.

Exercising loving intent is about honestly choosing what is best for the being next to you, and best for the world. Exercising loving intent is about, among a great many other things: being willing to act on the behalf of another even when it is difficult, being willing to actually feel the pain of being wrong, being willing to feel the humility of being imperfect, and being willing to face the fear of not knowing all the answers, or even not having much physical power at all. The true playing field for this great endeavor is not primarily out in the objects of the world- it is within yourself! The true playing field for this great endeavor is in your heart and mind. Some of the most important work you will ever do will be in the quiet moments of your heart. That is where the truly meaningful actions of Creation are occurring- and you are an incredibly important part of that process!

You have the power to choose! Your heart and spirit will always speak to you: if you are willing to relinquish the stories of the ego, you will always be guided as to where love is leading. You can be brave, for you are a powerful part of the Source of All Things. What will you choose then in this powerful moment, now?

The wearing of the bodily constraints enables consciousness to know and integrate a very unique type of experience. Much is possible in the body that otherwise is not possible.

For the spirit, the body is metaphorically like wearing a space suit that enables the spirit to enter a hostile environment. But unlike a space suit, the body is living: it adapts, changes, and biologically remembers everything that the spirit has experienced in this local journey.

If we want to fully use this physical life for all it can be, we must fully experience the body. The sensations, limitations, and memory of the body are all valuable elements of the physical experience. So rather than resisting the often highly constraining and challenging experience of being bodily, we should embrace it! For doing so facilitates the integration of this experience by immortal consciousness, and allows us to spiritually grow in important ways that will remain with us long after the body is gone.

The local intellect, which deals exclusively with forms (discrete thoughts and ideas), cannot understand higher truth. In other words, you cannot find the “Big Picture” answers by thinking. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t find them at all. The answers are there, always available as what is real within the powerful reservoir of Being.

We believe thoughts have power, because we see the power they have in this local world every day. Through thinking we establish models by which we understand our environment, and successfully interact with it. We have come to believe that the apparently objective “outside” world is what is most real, and through thinking we are able to learn about that world and effect change in it- so we believe that thinking holds the power. But in general we have lost sight of the real larger context. In focusing so deeply on the physical, we have become so single-sighted that we believe all truth must fit within our physical understandings. That is an erroneous assumption, because the “outside” physical world is not what is most real. You are real; your awareness and Being, which is a part of all awareness and Being, is what is most real! And that Being contains far, far more than this local character and this physical world.

Your Being is here, now! Your Being is the wonderful presence of life itself- that same life which has become “wrapped up” within the identity of this local character, and within that character’s many thoughts. You are more than that; the truth is more than that. So if you truly wish to know that, you must be willing to find the answers outside of thoughts.

The great challenge of our world situation today is ultimately an issue of consciousness. The situation will not be solved by any given political party, nation, or religion, because the problem is us: in our making decisions every day from fear, rather than love. Until we all both individually and collectively “grow up,” face our fears, and become living conduits of the love and unity that is native to our being, we will suffer.

The changes in the physical Earth situation are very important. But they are not primary. Consciousness is first; the physical is subsequent. Consciousness must change first; and then as it changes, we will naturally change the Earth situation.

Every time any one of us faces and integrates fear, we are making real progress. Every time any one of us chooses to selflessly support the person near us, even when it is difficult, we are making real progress. Every time any one of us finds joy and freedom even when the constraints of physical life are extreme, we are making real progress. Every time in the quiet of your own heart that you choose love over fear, that you choose freedom rather than the restrictive conditioning of your past, that you listen to the deeper parts of yourself even when the local story’s terrors seem so convincing, we are making real progress! Many times, real progress is made, even when a physical finger has not yet lifted.

You are important! Your journey, your choices, your intent is important. Your well being is important. That is true regarding you personally– not just you generally. You are very important indeed! And you are powerful. What you choose to do with that power as you engage this experience of the physical has a far-reaching effect. That effect may not be perceivable with the physical senses, but it does not make it any less real. You are affecting our reality, and other realities, in profound ways every day. How you choose to meet your daily experience- indeed, how you choose to meet each precious moment- is important!

So be encouraged! You have power over everything that you need to in order to effect real, lasting change for the better. Because you– your consciousness and spirit- are a part of this great unfolding. And as you change, so does the world!

We must take action. Spirituality without physical action is not true spirituality- because spirituality is about our real relationship with the present moment and the intent we wield in that present moment. Intention without action is not true intention. Intent equals action. When you intend to lift your hand, your hand lifts. When you intend to care for the other, you physically care for the other.

It is all too easy for the ego to justify inaction as the right thing to do. True loving intent questions even that, and sacrifices one’s comfort and certainty in the name of the whole whenever necessary.

We must take personal responsibility for our place in the world! In fact, we must take personal responsibility for the whole world!

Simultaneously, we do not need to be overwhelmed with the scope of the change required. We simply need to act where we are. As the saying goes, you must be the change that you wish to see in the world.

But this does not mean that you need to lose your peace. Your true nature transcends the rigorous “external” context. Your true nature is far greater than the ample opportunity around you to actualize that nature into our world. You are peace, and love, and freedom, and joy! And as you know that, you are able to then bring that to those around you in important physical and tangible ways. As you actualize both that physical change and also that change in your own consciousness, you help fulfill your extremely important role in the great expansion of being that is happening through this place.

Life itself is abundant beyond measure! Life itself is so rich that no physical form can possibly express the depths of its native bounty. You are Life, having the experience of being a person.

Thus the depths of abundance exist within you! You do not need to turn to the things of the world to find your richness. You do not need to turn to objects, ideas, beliefs, actions, substances, sensations, or relationships to find your worth. Worth already belongs to you, because you Are. That is not a statement of ego, it is a statement about Being.

There is never truly a reason to give up your hope, joy, or peace: Life is always there with you, because Life is what you are. The incredible depths of the bounty of that truth can never, ever leave you. Listen to the richness of your Being beneath all the Earthly conditioning, and allow yourself to know this while you are human, that your physical experience can that much more be one of joy!