Wisdom of the Week – Life

 Lucian Eyers © 2011

A friend suggested at the beginning of this week I should perhaps do a blog on the subject of life. I said that it was an interesting idea as we are expecting three Lipizzaner foals to be born very soon. We laughed together saying wouldn't it be funny if one was born this Friday in time for the blog. Then at 6.30 on Friday evening a new life was born. One of our mares gave birth to a beautiful colt. After our great joy, the concern set in as he was finding it hard to suckle from his mother. We tried to help him but realized that we had to just leave them both alone. The foal staggered about searching for his mother’s teats and although she stood like a rock he could not find them. Knowing the problems this could cause we began to worry.

Eventually nature took its course and the foal found its mother's teats to drink from for the first time. Therefore when left alone, the mother succeeded with her patience and understanding.

 

This week saw claims in the media by Harold Camping an American, who from his close study of the Bible believes that the end of the world will be tomorrow, the 21^st May 2011.

‘He says a huge earthquake will strike on May 21, when just 200million ‘true believers’ will be lifted to Heaven.

The forecast for everyone else is not so cheery – 153 days of ‘horror and chaos beyond description’ until the planet is destroyed.

Mr Camping, 89, said: “There is no possibility that it will not happen. We do not have a plan B.”

Among those convinced by the prediction is Robert Fitzpatrick, 60, who spent his £86,000 life savings on an advert campaign warning New Yorkers of the end.’1

 

However, Mr. Campling has picked up on the number 21. It has been known for some time amongst the spiritual community that the end of the old era and the beginning of the new will fall on the 21^st December 2012. To most it will seem like another day, to those who are psychic, the day will present remarkable spectacles as higher spiritual beings choose to share this great moment with us. It is likely that Earth will react in some way on this day and it will lead to the process of cleansing, but the end result will not destroy the planet.

So what will actually happen?

Everything is made up of vibrations. In very simple terms, the higher the vibration the more spiritually advanced something becomes. Earth also has a vibration and is currently at a 3^rd dimensional frequency. At 11.11am on the 21^st December 2012 the vibration of the planet will rise to a 5^th dimensional frequency. In this historic cosmic moment great light will pour into the planet. Never before has a planet shifted so dramatically in the history of the Universe.

So why is this happening?

For the first time we have never been so close to destroying ourselves and our natural world. The Universe has stepped in and will not allow this to happen as all is connected. What we do here affects the whole of the cosmos. In crude terms we must either shape-up or ship-out.

How will this happen?

Our planet will be cleansed. Cleansing takes place in two ways through fire and through water. The disasters you are seeing in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and America etc. are merely warnings. The disasters will be global and huge. It is sad to think that only when human beings are on their knees in desperation, are they prepared to change. However if change does not occur, then this will be the outcome.

Life is a precious gift that allows us to learn great lessons. Under the laws of the Universe we are all entitled to learn and grow. However, we are not entitled to leave a trail of destruction behind us, in order to achieve this.

What can we do?

Think. 
Think about what we eat and where it comes from.
Think about how we treat people.
Think about how we treat animals.
Think about how we use chemicals.
Think about anger.
Think about charity.
Think about kindness.
Think about independence.
Think about love.
Think about change.
Think about life.

You will read this blog on Sunday as Mr. Camping's predictions have been manipulated by media hype. What Mr. Camping has shown is that the Universe is watching over us and if we fail to act responsibly, then the gift of life will be taken away from us until we do.

Be grateful, be responsible and be the best of yourself. Remember you are part of God.

I will leave you with a poem I wrote called ‘What is love?’ It is taken from my ‘The Angel Book of Hours.’ A friend who was getting married asked me to write a poem for her wedding which I was very happy to do. The poem talks about a love that is all forgiving, accepts and understands. It makes no demands and is not confined to only those close to us. It is an angelic love.

When we learn to love unconditionally, the process of healing can begin. It is this love that God has for us. Breathing life into our bodies, bringing joy to our heart, the power of love is revealed – in the essence of Life.

What is love?
What love is not,
With ease I’ll say,
For true love
Never drifts away.

To cherish,
Yet to give them space,
With thoughts of love
Upon your face
Is stronger than the rope of steel,
You may have held,
To make them heel.

“I loved them once,
But things have changed,”
Is not the way
Our Lord behaves.
Love stands so strong,
That winds from Hell
Have no effect, from tales we tell.

Expecting or demanding love
Is not what happens high above.
So as in Heaven so below,
The source of love will freely flow.

And if the rules,
By which you live,
They break,
Well you must then forgive.
For this your Father does for you,
As what we take,
We too should do.

To truly love another soul,
Is just a part of being whole.
For you will see a time one day,
When everyone, you’ll love this way.

'What is love?’ is taken from ‘The Angel Book of Hours’ by Lucian Eyers © 2011


1. Metro newspaper May 18^th 20011 ‘The end is nigh (Forget about Sunday)'.
 

Wisdom of the Week – Sex, Drugs and Religion. Part 1 Sex

Lucian Eyers © 2011

A friend once asked me what the angels thought of us when we masturbate. After smiling I explained the angels do not judge but understand us. I could then sense the angels were also smiling at what my friend had said and it reminded me how angels love laughter and are often amused at how seriously we take ourselves.
We are all at different stages of spiritual development, all learning complex lessons. Controlling our emotions and finding balance are where the demands of our body can teach us to grow.
Each of us has a feminine and masculine element. However, when we incarnate into a physical body, we have to choose one or the other. Angels are androgynous as their sexuality is in perfect balance. They can reveal themselves in either the feminine or masculine form. It is this balance that we are learning to develop. 
What about homosexuality? 
When we choose our life's lessons, our higher selves decide whether these lessons would be better learnt in a male or female body.  The past lives of a soul may have been more familiar with the opposite gender. There can be a longing for what was once earlier understood, choosing to express their sexuality as they had in the past. There are also very challenging tests as a homosexual due to the obvious prejudice of many. In much darker times, homosexuals were treated very badly and would have suppressed their feelings. We are now seeing a great number who wish to be born at a time where they can be more accepted and fulfil their life’s lessons. Long ago when the planet was at a higher frequency, homosexuals were loved and honoured in the same way heterosexuals were. A clear benchmark of how advanced any society is, can be measured by how the majority treat those in the minority. 
So how is sex for pleasure viewed by the Universe opposed to sex for reproduction? 
It is important to remember that it is not the act itself that makes sex beautiful or barbaric, but the intention. If sex is entered into with two willing people with love and is not at the detriment to another, then this is a divine expression. If however a person is unconsenting, below the legal age and is violated in some way, then the perpetrator will accrue karma that will have to be repaid. For those who violate children or the elderly, the karmic burden is heavy indeed. We often hear of such cases where people have been abused and ask why this was allowed to happen. There are many reasons why someone will be abused. It could be that the abused person has undertaken an ‘initiation,’ in order to show others how we must learn to honour each other. If this person can forgive the abuser, the reward for spiritual growth is immense. It may also be the case that the person who is being abused is repaying karma from a past life. By forgiving those who violate us, the vicious circle is broken and the karmic debt is repaid. The act of forgiveness is so powerful as a means of removing karma, because humans at this level find it so very difficult to do. You can help to master this by remembering that none of us are perfect. 
So does God punish us when we do something wrong?
No – God is love. We are all forgiven for our failings. However, we cannot change the laws under which the Universe governs us. Our higher selves would not wish for us to be treated differently from any other soul. Therefore, at a higher soul level, we will agree to settle our debts.
So what is the divine purpose for sex?
It was originally meant as a means of expressing love to the one we cherish. It was the means of bringing new life into the world and sharing in a commitment to fully experience unconditional love and to strengthen a relationship.
This changed as it was then used in a way that had not been intended by the spiritual realms. The church then used sex as a means of control and instilling guilt, forcing people to believe it was wrong for a child to be born out of wedlock. Those seeking power and wealth used it as a lucrative means for substituting love. Others through a lack of self-worth used it to gratify themselves through lust rather than through love.
So how do the angelic realms view marriage with someone of the same sex?
In the same way they view a heterosexual marriage. When two people commit themselves to each other through love, then this is considered to be a divine undertaking. Marriage is a contract sealed by two people and not by God. The angels do not judge us based on the gender of those committed to marriage, but are dedicated to helping any couple in their time together.
Marriage provides us with the opportunity to learn a sense of commitment. It gives us support if we feel vulnerable. It develops unconditional love and our capacity to forgive. Lessons are always more difficult to learn when it concerns someone you truly care for.
Do we need to learn celibacy to become spiritually advanced?
Some religious groups such as the Buddhist faith and the Catholic Church adopt celibacy as part of their order, however, this is very hard to achieve and especially for men. If any challenge is forced upon us before we are ready, then this can lead to frustration, anger and in some cases abuse. Some souls will choose a life of celibacy to develop, but like all of us, if they fail, then they are given the opportunity again in another life.
From a higher spiritual level, sex is of course an expression of love. Through love there is life. Therefore, the act of sex is the catalyst of life and on which I would like to conclude this subject.
‘A baby girl who was said to be ‘clinically dead’ by doctors has amazed her family by recovering from meningitis. Lillie-Mai’s parents were told it would be best if her life-support machine was switched off.
But Belinda Little and Rupert Jackson refused to give up on their child and knew she was pulling through when the little battler started responding to noise. Mr Jackson, 31, said: ‘I noticed that every time someone closed the door and it banged there would be a small response. It wasn’t much but I could see her reacting.’
Lillie-Mai was 14 weeks old when she contracted the killer virus on January 11. Two days later she suffered a heart attack in hospital.
Although she pulled through, the girl’s body was horribly swollen and her parents were told she had two hours to live. Miss Little, 22, said: ‘They said if she had another cardiac arrest they would not intervene. It was as though I was stuck in a nightmare.’
Lillie-Mai had 11 major operations while doctors fought to save her and has lost both her legs and an arm to the disease.
Her parents, of Maryport in Cumbria, are now raising the £20,000 needed to pay for bionic legs with flexible knees.’1 

This article was published this year on May 11^th. Lillie-Mai contracted the virus this year on January 11^th. Lillie-Mai also had eleven major operations. Numbers are significant. The spiritual world uses them to show us that these events are not just random coincidences, but opportunities for learning. Lillie-Mai demonstrated to us the importance of life and even when all seemed to be against her, she was determined to survive. Eleven is a number often associated with bad events, but from a spiritual perspective eleven is the beginning of something significant and wonderful at a higher level. In Lillie-Mai’s case, she has shown us that life is truly precious and not to be taken for granted, denigrated or taken from us prematurely by another.

This is so often not the case, as many are confused believing it is acceptable to take another’s life under certain circumstances. However, karma will be accrued whatever the circumstances.
We are born out of love and so as we came into this world, this is how we should leave. Ready to continue on our spiritual journey of growth and understanding; the journey of life. 
A friend came to me one day and said his wife was experiencing post-natal depression. I asked the angels for some guidance and the result was a poem I wrote called, ‘The Joy of Life.’ This poem is taken from my book, ‘The Angel Book of Hours.’ My illustration for the poem is above. I presented my friend with the poem and he told me later that he had handed it to his wife one morning while she was in bed with her baby. When he returned a few minutes later she was crying. I would like to think that perhaps her tears – were out of joy.

The Joy of Life 

The baby lay within her arms,

And knew his mother’s tears
Were shed not out of love for him,
But fell from all her fears.

He asked his guardian angel,
“Can you make my Mummy smile?”
And he was told that patience
Will reveal this in a while.

The infant was determined,
And insisted, “Help her now.”
The angel said, “Great courage
You will need, so this is how.

You know not where you are,
Or if the food upon your lips
Will cease to last, but now I ask,
You trust her then with this.

I ask you so to smile,
And know your mother loves you much.
But fear and her exhaustion
Brings a sadness that is such.

One day you’ll be a parent
Understanding how she feels,
So in her weary arms, my child,
The joy of life – reveal.”

‘The Joy of Life’ taken from ‘The Angel Book of Hours,’ by Lucian Eyers © 2011

1. METRO Newspaper 11^th May 2011 ‘‘Our baby refused to die”

Wisdom of the Week – Sex, Drugs and Religion Part 2 Drugs

 

Lucian Eyers © 2011

 

We understand drugs have the capacity to harm or heal. We know taking drugs for medical reasons is socially acceptable opposed to using them for pleasure. It is true that narcotics can allow us to visit spiritual planes in the same way meditation will. However, the danger taking this route is addiction, pressure on the heart and the destruction of cells. It is important to mention that if you are of a positive state of mind your experience will be different than if you are negative. It is the difference of experiencing heaven or hell. Practising meditation will clear your mind and answer many questions you may have. It is the corner stone in achieving a state of oneness and spiritual enlightenment. 

What are we doing wrong? 
Because of greed and ignorance the world has become awash with manufactured chemicals that are harming us and the planet.

Everything we need to remain healthy and in balance is naturally available to us. Yet chemicals pollute our air in the form of fossil fuel emissions; our drinking water is laced with fluoride which is highly poisonous; our sea water contains industrial waste, detergents and plastics; our food is full of artificial additives, preservatives and steroids; our fruit and vegetables are grown with the aid of pesticides, artificial fertilisers and fungicides and our bodies are being subjected to chemical creams and dyes to our hair. It is therefore no surprise that our bodies struggle with what we throw at them. We then try to remedy the problems by resorting to more chemicals known as drugs – some may call it medicine.

In Dr. Earl Conroy’s book on nutritional food and holistic healing he says, 'Eva Hill (a doctor, who is a prominent cancer specialist) has placed most of her cancer patients on an almost all raw food regimen, which is very effective. If raw food will help to control cancer, certainly it will aid in preventing cancer.'1 

Dr. Conroy continues by saying, 'To attain optimum health it seems that a higher percentage of raw food is essential. Optimally, 60 to 80% raw food grown organically, (with no artificial fertilizers or dangerous sprays), adequate protein and mineral supplements, and judicious use of cooked food, will result in vibrant heath which can last for far longer than we generally consider possible. Old age and senility, according to nutritional research is evidence of increasing nutritional deficiencies and growing toxaemia. Overcoming toxaemia, deficiencies, stress and unfavourable environments, could lead to exuberant health past the century mark, as is reasonably common in Russia, Bulgaria, Hunza and Vilacambaba Ecuador.'2 

Dr. Conroy’s holistic healing approach sees growth as fundamental in achieving our goal in life. The growth of energy and wellbeing involves six equal parts demonstrated by the use of a hexagon, they are:

• Health – eating natural and pure foods.

• Work – doing work you enjoy and is natural to your skills.

• Family – creating a sense of belonging.

• Spirituality – a sense of a meaningful existence, which can connect not only with Mother Earth but with the cosmos as well.

• Aesthetic appreciation – a need to express ourselves in a creative context be it art, music, dance, theatre, landscaping or literature etc.,

• Social expression – the need to share ourselves with others.

This wider holistic approach is the correct approach to take. Manufactured drugs may remove the symptoms, but the cause of the problem will still be present. This is why many manufactured drugs often need to be taken for long periods, sometimes for the rest of the patient’s life. An example of this is the common drug – statins.

A study was published in the journal ‘Metabolism’ that shows a combination diet of vegetables, fruit and nuts may be as effective as statins. 'Researchers in Canada have developed a vegetarian combination diet which they say cuts cholesterol by almost a third in just one month. The diet includes vegetables, such as broccoli and red peppers; soy milk and soy sausages; oat bran cereal and bread; and fruit and nuts. The researchers believe the food programme could be a possible drug-free alternative to cutting cholesterol and protecting people from heart disease.'

The article on the BBC website continues by stating, 'These drugs have been used extensively for 15 years to treat patients with high levels of cholesterol. Professor Jenkins said further and larger studies are needed before the diet could be recommended to patients.  He said: "The take home message right now is that there is hope for a drug-free treatment for some people with high cholesterol.” '3

This article was published in December 2002. Dr. Earl Conroy’s was published in 1981. Like so many things, common sense takes time to filter through. 

So why do we turn to conventional medicine opposed to alternative remedies? 
We are mislead is the simplest answer. Doctors are committed to improving our health. But they are lead by the research undertaken by the drugs companies on their own products. There are huge opportunities for conflict of interest to ensue. Manufactured medicines are also extremely powerful but by their nature they are man-made and do not contain the essence of nature. Natural discoveries such as penicillin and opium for pain relief are effective examples where nature provides us with what we need. 

So what is the answer? 
Independence. Take charge of our lives and feed ourselves with honour and dignity. We must explore safer alternatives, that are natural. We must finally recognise that bad health is the body’s mechanism warning us that we are doing something wrong.

Herbal medicines are cheap and like homeopathy will not harm you. They are however, a gentle medicine that will take time to work. For this to happen we must remain positive, stress-free and give ourselves plenty of rest.

However, because of our stressful lives, it is convenient to resort to manufactured drugs. Though powerful they are potentially dangerous and extremely expensive. This week saw an example of how the controversial cannabis plant saved a little boy’s life who was dying of cancer. This story reminds us to be careful what we consider to be bad. It shows that the alchemy of God is perfect, yet our humble efforts may be not.

‘A desperate father whose son was suffering from a life-threatening brain tumour has revealed he gave him cannabis oil to ease his pain. And he has now apparently made a full recovery. Cash Hyde, known as Cashy, was a perfectly healthy baby when he was born in June 2008 but became sick shortly before his second birthday. At first he was misdiagnosed with glandular fever before his parents Mike and Kalli, from Missoula in Montana, were given the devastating news he had a serious brain tumour.

The little boy had to have arduous chemotherapy treatment to reduce the growth, which had drastic side effects including seizures and a blood infection. His distraught parents were repeatedly told he was likely to succumb to the illness because the condition was so bad. After one bout of high-dose chemotherapy, Cash was so weak he could not lift his head and was too sick to eat any solid food for 40 days. It was at this point that Mr Hyde decided to take action and go down the route of medical marijuana to try to help his young son.

Mr Hyde said: “He hadn't eaten a thing in 40 days - and, it was really incredible to watch him take a bite of a piece of cheese. It shows that he wants to live'. He credits the cannabis oil with helping his son get through the chemo, and say Cash has now been declared cancer free by doctors. The boy is now back and home and living the life of a typical young boy, playing with his elder brother Colty.”

The father continued by saying, 'It's very controversial, it's very scary. But, there's nothing more scary than losing your child.” ‘4

My illustration above is taken from ‘The Angel Book of Hours’ and illustrates a short poem I wrote called, ‘What harm is there in Dust?’

The poem reminds us of our obsession with cleansing and defacing what is already perfect – from the tarnishing of metal to the wrinkles in our skin. Yet we do this to the detriment of our living Earth.  

What harm is there in dust? 

What harm is there in dust?
Why can’t they leave it just to settle?
Instead they scrub the changing face,
Of plastic, wood and metal.

Clear waters take their effluence,
As skin is cleansed with oil.
But deep beneath the seas and skin,
The scene is one of spoil.

It breaks my heart to see a world,
Where greed is such a must.
The World will seem then very clean,
When Man reverts to dust.

‘What harm is there in dust?’ taken from ‘The Angel Book of Hours,’ by Lucian Eyers © 2011

1. Page 28 Nutritional summary with supplement of ‘Nutritional, Biological and Psychological Factors in Holistic Natural Healing’ by Dr. Earl W. Conroy, Chartered Natural Medicine Practitioner, Motueka, New Zealand.

2. Page 30 Nutritional summary with supplement of Nutritional, Biological and Psychological Factors in Holistic Natural Healing by Dr. Earl W. Conroy
3. BBC News Sunday, 15 December, 2002, ‘Vegetarian diet 'cuts heart risk'
4. Mailonline 4th May 2011 ‘Boy, two, with brain cancer is 'cured' after secretly being fed medical marijuana by his father’

Wisdom of the Week – Sex, Drugs and Religion: Part 1 Religion

 

  Lucian Eyers © 2010

You may wonder why I have grouped these three topics together. But they all share common themes. These range from confusion and corruption to purpose and compassion. I will attempt to remove some of the confusion surrounding these subjects.

Today saw the royal marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton. This religious ceremony showed a profound commitment, made in the eyes of God. It was also the opportunity for joyful celebration amongst two billion people across the planet. It was a wonderful example of where the process of religion is displayed at its very best. ‘Will the marriage last?” some people have asked. It will – for three reasons.

It was undertaken by two mature people, they clearly love each other and it was a decision made of their own free will.

Last week on Easter Sunday the great Indian spiritual leader the Sia Baba died. “The 84-year-old's death on Sunday triggered an outpouring of grief from followers who included Indian politicians, movie stars, athletes and industrialists. Most remembered him as a pious, selfless person who worked to help others with the billions of dollars donated to his charitable trust. However, he had also been dismissed by some in the past as a charlatan who passed off magic tricks as miracles.”1

Considered by many to be the most spiritually advanced person on Earth, the Sia Baba wisely did not promote one religion above another. Because of his success, there were some who tried to disgrace him, claiming he also sexually abused some of his devotees. Clearly his accusers were in a minority, fearful of losing their own devotees or unable to accept different views and abilities. Sai Baba’s abilities benefited many people:

“The crowning achievement of the foundation's charitable work was its funding for the renovation of the Kandaleru-Poondi canal to carry drinking water more than 100 miles to Chennai (formerly Madras) city at a cost of £1bn. This and other projects brought clean water to almost two million people in various drought-prone areas of southern India.”2

The Sia Baba once said, “Man equals God minus ego.” It is this understanding that the process of selfishness and arrogance will leave us vulnerable to the worst part of ourselves. Do not think that ego is a state of self-preservation. It is self-worth which allows you to love both yourself and others. The Sia Baba was known to have declared, "I am God. And you too are God. The only difference between you and Me is that while I am aware of it, you are completely unaware."

The Sia Baba meant he was part of God and was living proof of what we can be if we truly believe in ourselves.

After writing last week’s Easter blog on ‘Happiness’ I was very pleased that I had been able to include two belief systems in one text – Christianity and Judaism. A friend of mine who is a practising Jew emailed me in response to this blog stating, “For you it’s logically possible to do this, given that your faith considers Judaism its mother religion.”

I responded by saying, “I can do this because I embrace any religion that promotes love, tolerance and acceptance and I mean any religion. But I have no need to choose one above another to follow. God loves us all and we are all of God. The most dangerous scenario that can be adopted is to compare. This makes us either smug or inadequate – much better to accept that being different is beautiful in itself.”

So is religion good for us?

We have had countless generations of determined people usually male, who have tried to tell people how they should live their lives. Therefore, I am reluctant to do the same. The choice must be our own. I know what is good for me, but that may not be good for you. What I can say is, if your chosen belief system promotes compassion and love to all, then it is good. If however, it is intent on exploiting and controlling others, then it is not.

It is important to remember that we are here on Earth to learn. Therefore, from a higher soul level we have chosen the right environment in order to learn certain lessons. Different belief systems present different challenges. Each carries its opposite, so for example the opposite to fear is trust.

• The Catholic faith for example promotes transcending to a higher place but encourages guilt from the confession of sin to matters of birth control.

• The Buddhist faith teaches peace and to honour all living things. But coupled with this is a need to suppress our emotions before we are perhaps ready. This leads to anger and frustration.

• The Jewish faith has on one hand a sense of worth believing they are the chosen people, but then often experience rejection which can lead to a lack of self-worth.

• The Islamic faith promotes peace and tolerance. Its sense of faith is very strong, but sometimes to the point that it questions nothing. This leads to manipulation which will generate frustration and then anger.

• The Protestant faith teaches us to love unconditionally and to forgive those who persecute us. But, it is dominated by intermediaries who do not promote the act of tolerance to all.

• The Hindu faith endorses a great sense of tolerance, accepting many belief systems. The spiritual icons the religion worships are countless, but the result leads to much confusion.

• The Pagan or folk religion understands we are all of one. They honour the Earth as well as the Father. However, this can lead to blind superstition rather than accepting that consequence is the result of action.

• Spiritualism focuses on moving towards ascension, but can also distract us from remaining grounded.

Remember there is no such thing as ‘better’ only ‘different’ – accept all is as it should be in order for us to learn.

So what about the atheist and agnostic?

This will teach independence. However, the ability to believe in something that you can only see or hear will hinder spiritual development. This can often lead to selfishness and frustration, as there will be many occasions out of one’s control and the need for faith and trust will be necessary. Even the agnostic and famous scientific cosmologist and astronomer Carl Sagan said, “An atheist has to know an awful lot more than I do. An atheist is someone who knows there is no god. By some definitions atheism is very stupid.”

Am I suggesting a spiritual path opposed to organised religion?

It matters not what belief system you decide on, but you would be wise to follow your own path. Do not judge others that choose another route to you.

It is however the case that as we move further into 2012, more people will replace organised religion with a spiritual philosophy. This is largely due to the dogma that organised religion currently adopts.

I have included one of my poems which is based on a true story about a lady vicar in a small village. The poem is taken from my book, ‘The Angel Book of Hours,’ and is called, ‘The Vicar of Little Sawing’. My illustration for the poem is at the top. This true story is a reminder of how we must not believe everything we read, no matter where it is written. It suggests also we should be realistic about people and understand that even with the greatest of intentions, the writings of any sacred script are not always guided by the hand of God.

The Vicar of Little Sawing

A shaft of light through coloured glass,

So radiantly appeared.

The flowers blossomed in the aisle,

“We’re Godly people here.”

The warden said, “For forty years,

I’ve cleaned my little church.

And though I’m quite disgusted,

I won’t leave God in the lurch.”

“Well forty years is nothing,

I have been here all my life,

For once I was baptised in here,

And later as a wife.”

The lady thus continued,

“This new notion’s quite insane,

I’m such a Godly person,

You won’t see me here again.”

The congregation dwindled,

Some would visit only when,

The vicar had decided,

It was time to visit friends.

But still the warden cleaned the church,

Yet on his favourite book,

He left the pages open,

Just so everyone could look.

“For here it says,” he muttered,

“Only men should preach in church,

And I am an authority,

For I’ve done much research.”

Some days an open window

Sent a breeze that turned the page.

But by the evening’s visit,

It was turned again in rage.

The vicar left it as it was,

“Let people have their views,

For I can understand why some

Will not embrace this news.”

The warden though was angry,

She’s provoking me he thought.

And so he then decided,

That a lesson should be taught.

He stuck the pages down and so

Exposed and bathed in light,

But as the dust and years appeared,

The pages turned to white.

“I’ve dedicated many years,

In service to you Lord,

So why have you now taken words,

That show what we deplore?”

His guardian angel thus appeared,

“God’s messenger I am.

I’m here because you asked,

And so to help you understand.

What right have you, to say just who,

Should be, or should be not?

The word of God is tolerance,

Or have you now forgot?

You say you know God’s words,

Though like a parrot you recite.

Yet proof you do not have,

That these are words our Lord did write.

The prejudice of Man,

Was not invented just by you,

But spans the many centuries,

To when this book was new.

The word of God is clear,

It’s up to you to siphon out,

His voice of love and reason,

Or reject Man’s lies and doubt.”

‘The Vicar of Little Sawing’ taken from ‘The Angel Book of Hours’ by Lucian Eyers © 2010

1. Guardian website Tuesday 26 April 2011, ‘Thousands queue to pay respects to Sai Baba’.

2. Guardian website Monday 25 April 2011, ‘Sai Baba Obituary’.

Wisdom of the Week – Happiness

  Lucian Eyers © 2011

Ask most people what they wish for in life and the answer is very likely to be happiness. To achieve this state of consciousness, it is essential to be content with what you have and with who you are. Being happy is the ability to radiate pure love to everyone and everything around you. I hope that at the end of this blog you will be a little closer to finding this. Some of you may have already done so.

Because of the demanding tests that Earth presents to us, it is no surprise that a campaign spearheaded by ‘Action for Happiness’ highlighted a huge number of Britons who are unhappy. The reasons the action group gave ranged from a lack of human interaction, poor diet and focusing on acquiring more.

In the same week Bolivia has passed a new law, which is the first of its kind, extending legal rights to our natural Earth. Known as ‘The Law of Mother Nature’, it upholds the principles that nature has the same rights as we do, not to be violated through greed but treated with respect and protected.

"Bolivians have long revered the Pachamama Andean goddess of Mother Earth, and the law is said to be greatly inspired by a resurgence in the indigenous belief that the deity is central to all life. As Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera said when describing the measure, 'Earth is the mother of all...the harmony [between man and nature] must be preserved as a guarantee of its regeneration'." 1

Bolivians have been driven out of their countryside dwellings to find work and food in the city due to the disastrous effects of global warming. Their crops are dying, their livestock are becoming diseased due to the rise in temperature which encourages insects and they are desperate for water. The glaciers that once provided a source of water from the mountains have in some areas completely dried up.

The Bolivians have lived very simple lives and blame the West for their plight, saying they are responsible for global warming. The Bolivians say they need help but they stand alone. America recently withdrew its aid to Bolivia shortly after being criticised by the Bolivians that it was a major contributor to global warming.

So what has this got to do with happiness? 

You would be quite right to conclude – not a great deal as it may not seem obvious. The situation is serious and can only become worse if we allow it. The Bolivians are a spiritual nation who have lived closely to the Earth. They are known for blessing the land and showing gratitude for the bounty they receive, but this is not enough as the Bolivian situation shows.

We are all connected and everything we do makes a huge difference not only to us, but to the planet and to the cosmos as well.

So what will happen next?

This is a warning, just like the recent disasters in New Zealand, Australia, Japan and all the other countries that are currently suffering the effects of global cleansing. This week,

“Residents in North Carolina, where 62 tornadoes were reported to have hit, woke up to find bodies strewn across the ground, homes ripped from their foundations and power lines downed. It was the states worst spring storm in 20 years with officials tallying 21 dead, more than 130 seriously injured, 65 homes destroyed and 600 significantly damaged.” 2

Since then the death toll has risen to 45. Everything happens for a reason. ‘Effect’ is the consequence of ‘cause.’ Therefore, if we refuse to change our old destructive habits by continuing to abuse the planet and not helping those who suffer – then we too will experience great hardship.

At present we are in a position to help, we can start by being grateful for what we have.

There was a great Man who understood the pathway to happiness. The picture above is my illustration for a poem I wrote called ‘Friday,’ taken from my book, ‘The Angel Book of Hours.’ In my poem it highlights our enthusiasm for this day.

Friday is a day of hope, anticipation, joy, rest and the freedom to spend the weekend as you wish. But imagine if every day was like Friday. Imagine this long enough and it can happen. The poem ‘Friday’ is about taking control of our lives. It is creating balance and understanding we all need, to have purpose and interact with others. But that work should not dominate our lives.

The subject of my poem was a great spiritual leader who once said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself'.3  Once we learn to truly love ourselves, then this thing He asks – is not so very difficult to do.

Friday 

If I controlled the working week,

The days upon a diary’s sheet,

Would still contain as number seven,

Sunday as a day of Heaven.

Monday would be gone from sight,

Explaining that it left that night.

Tuesday’s place is as it should,

A little work is always good.

Wednesday, I declare today

Will be a public holiday.

Thursday, back to work again,

To give the clouds a chance to rain.

So now I’ll pause, for some applause,

A trumpet and a drum of course.

The day of promised fun and rest,

The day that workers love the best. 

The day that drains our woes and fuss,

The day that Jesus died for us.

‘Friday’ is taken from ‘The Angel Book of Hours,’ by Lucian Eyers © 2011

At a soul level we may all request difficult tests that will help both others and ourselves to spiritually grow.

On this day The Christ undertook one of the most difficult ‘initiations’ any soul could bear. His crucifixion amongst other things showed us there is life after death and that we take both our successes and our failings with us when we depart. Once we act responsibly, life becomes smooth and joyful – the result is happiness.

My wife Clare has an interesting topical recipe that will also help improve your life. For happiness comes not only from what we think, but naturally from what we eat as well.

Essene bread

Here is a little physical and spiritual nourishment to celebrate Good Friday and Easter. Try making bread from a recipe which is about 2000 years old and from around the time of Christ. Essene bread is an ancient recipe which appeared in a first century Aramaic manuscript, ‘The Essene Gospel of Peace’ Book 1. The Essenes were a Jewish religious group at this time, (from the second century BCE to the first century CE). They devoted themselves to a lifestyle of communal living, purity and piety.

The bread is very economical, simple to make, highly nutritious and tasty. It is made from sprouted whole grains of wheat and prepared at a low temperature and can even be baked in the rays of the sun. It can also be made with a proportion of sprouted whole rye grains.

For two reasons Essene bread is an alternate form of bread to other breads: It is far more beneficial to the body – it does not cause fermentation in the intestines, which like most breads result in gas and discomfort and because the sprouting process releases extra nutrients, it maximizes on the vitamin content of the bread.

However, the most delightful way to savour the spiritual content of this bread is to contemplate how the bread was made all those years ago, as so poetically described by ‘The Essene Gospel of Peace’.

“Let the angels of God prepare your bread. Moisten your wheat, that the angels of water may enter it. Then set it in the air, that the angel of air may embrace it. And leave it from morning to evening beneath the sun, that the angel of sunshine may descend upon it. And the blessings of the three angels will soon make the germ of life to sprout in your wheat. Then crush your grain, and make thin wafers, as did your forefathers when they departed out of Egypt, the house of bondage. Put them back again beneath the sun from its appearing, and when it is risen to its highest in the heavens, turn them over on the other side that they may be embraced there also by the angel of sunshine, and leave them there until the sun sets. For the angels of water, and air and of sunshine fed and ripened the wheat in the field, and they likewise must prepare also your bread. And the same sun which, with the fire of life, made the wheat to grow and ripen, must cook your bread with the same fire. For the fire of the sun gives life to the wheat, to the bread, and to the body. But the fire of death kills the wheat, the bread, and the body. And the living angels of the living God serve only living men. For God is the God of the living, and not the God of the dead.” 4

With this in mind, how can you not make something special?

Method for one loaf

Firstly soak two cupfuls of wholegrain wheat, in four cupfuls of water in a sprouting box overnight. The wheat should be uncooked and organic, (organic spelt grain is ideal). Drain the water off the next day, leave to sprout in a warm, dark room and rinse with cool water at least twice a day. Ensure the grains are well drained each time and shake gently to keep the grains separate. By about three to four days the grains will have grown long tails and stems. When they taste sweet they are ready to use. You do not need to rinse on the last occasion as it will make the dough too wet. Then as the original recipe states, crush the sprouts to a fine pulp, either by hand in a mortar and pestle or a grinder or food processor until the dough is quite thick, sticks to itself and is mottled in colour. You can add a small amount of soaked or well moistened fruits, nuts or other ingredients at this stage, such as honey or spices.

Take up a couple of handfuls of dough and knead, working out the air pockets and shape into flattened round shapes, like the sun. The rounds can now sit for an hour or so on grease-proof paper before baking. If the sun is not hot enough in your part of world, then slow baking in the oven to simulate the sun at 100 degrees celcius for about two hours, or even better for longer in a slow cooker at a lower temperature. Half way through the baking, turn the loaf over to allow for an even bake. You will know whether the bread is ready when it feels firm to the touch and soft inside. It will firm up more as it cools. The bread will last about three days normally and if refridgerated, will last for some weeks.

© Clare Eyers 2011

1. Huffington Post website 13^th April 2011 'Bolivia's Law Of Mother Earth Would Give Nature And Humans Equal Protection'. 

2. Metro newspaper Tuesday, 19^th April 2011 ‘Recovery begins after deadly storms cause havoc across southern US –Trail of destruction'. 

3. King James Bible “And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.’ Mark 12:31   
4. The excerpt was translated by Edmund Bordeaux Szekely.