The eternal flame, which could also be described as the spiritual essence within, helps us to evolve through the path of the Soul.
The path of the Soul is the path of Recognition. Through the many challenges that the soul encounters over many, many lifetimes, we learn about who we are. However, this path is full of pitfalls, and it takes strength, courage and perseverance, and that indomitable will, which is inherent within to guide us forward. Through each lifetime we are faced with the challenges that our culture, our race, our gender, our nation may thrust upon us through indoctrination, belief systems and perception. Nevertheless, each challenge is an opportunity for us to learn and to leave behind that which no longer serves us and be ready to move forward and encounter a new challenge, a new opportunity. In other words, provide us with a new chapter to begin.
This new opportunity in fact is presented to us every year through the seasons. Each season brings fresh opportunities to learn to move forward and particularly to let it go. One of the simplest ways of course to recognise and remember this is when Spring comes. After the Winter, after the cold weather and darkness which gets many people down, Spring arrives, and we begin to see and experience this awesome scene as we see beautiful crocuses bursting forth. The days are longer and there is that feeling of freshness, of optimism. There is more light and perhaps even excitement in the air. People tend to smile more when there is light in their lives.
Slowly, but surely, we see the flowers and the colours of spring bursting out new life. Something new is beginning. The leaves are covering the trees and the birds are singing their joyous spring songs. We start looking forward and planning ahead, what to do during the months of Spring and Summer. This is the season of the equinox, the season when the Festival of Light of the Buddha comes upon us. The Lord Buddha is the embodiment of Light and his gift to humanity is the gift of enlightenment. This is called the Wesak Festival. The Buddha’s principle is often called pure reason as we can cut through the fog of glamour and illusion, of idealism, of sensationalism and see with clarity. The Light is the pure light of reason. The Light to understand and see-through things with clarity,
The Summer brings its own canopy of flowers. The days are longer, the warmth of the sun embraces us, as we rejoice in the long days to meet friends and family, to make arrangements to go on holiday. Flowers are blooming everywhere. The summer is the season of the Christ Festival. The Christ was the emissary of Love. Both the Lord Christ and the Lord Buddha brought us light and love. Let us look at the spring and summer seasons as bringing us fresh opportunities, fresh challenges to let go and develop these two very significant and important spiritual qualities. The solstice is the high point of summer.
Then slowly we come to the Autumn. A time when the leaves are turning gold and auburn, and we sense that something is drawing us within, perhaps for reflection. The Autumn brings us the opportunity to gather our harvest, to look within and ask what we have learned, what have we achieved in the last few months. Gathering our harvest is a time to review, to ponder and assimilate where we are on our path.
Then as the days get shorter and the dark nights loom before us, we begin to plan for the winter season, the winter solstice. We may not be conscious of this, but we are starting the process to prepare for the birth of a new light. This is the true meaning of Christmas. This is a time when we are ready to surrender what we have learned to make space within and make ourselves ready for the birth of a new light.
Every season has its own wonder, its own significance, its own treasures, its own opportunities for new beginnings, for starting a new chapter in the book of life. The beauty of this is that we, and only we, are in control of this. For this is the path of our soul. This is the path of our tremendous opportunities to let go of old indoctrination, of old belief systems and patterns in our lives, and to change our perceptions. We have within us the courage and strength to change our lives through changing our thinking. It is by understanding ourselves that we are so much more than just the physical that we take charge of our journey. No longer are we held back by guilt, by fear, by anger, disappointment or bitterness. All those negative thoughts and feelings which has blocked us from moving forward we can now let go and take charge of our path
The eternal flame is the very essence of the Creator within each one of us. It is this essence that drives us forward, as an impulse, an urge to keep on keeping on no matter what challenges we may face. We need to unshackle ourselves from the past. Whatever we have been through, it is over. It is now a time for new beginnings, for a new chapter in our book of life.
Article by Astra Ferro
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Article published in Edition 61
