LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."

{James Keller, Catholic Priest}

                                                 © Chessie Roberts 2012, all rights reserved

I awoke in total darkness. The only sounds from outside were the crickets, owls calling way off in the distance and water lapping at the shore of the lake not too far from the cabin's front door. My dream had been a bit unsettling, and I was not ready to reenter it, so I decided to get up. The moon was in its new phase, and the only light was from an occasional star that flickered in and out of view as the clouds scudded overhead.

In total darkness I fumbled until my hands found one of the pillar candles that were scattered about the room. I found the accompanying matches and lit the candle. It flared to life and settled into a steady flame, bringing a small amount of light to my searching eyes and a feeling of comfort to my dream fogged heart. My biology decided that it required a cup of calming tea, but the cabin was still too dark for this endeavor so without much thought, I reached for another candle and used the lit one to light the next.

For reasons known only to the gods of such things, I was suddenly aware of the fact that by lighting the second candle from the first, the light in the room was greater but the first flame was not lessened. I had heard this adage all of my life but had never stopped to consider it before, now I was transfixed in facilitation of the truth of this statement. My quest for tea forgotten, I rounded up all of the candles that I could find and began to study the phenomenon as I slowly advanced one wick toward the flame of the first lit candle. 

As the flame caught the new wick, there was a small flair as both flames burned in tandem for a second then, as I moved the newly lighted candle away they both burned with the same intensity but now they burned separately. Again and again I lit a dark candle from the bright one, just studying how the light spread and grew without taking anything away from the original candle or any one I chose to use as the source.

As I watched, I understood how we are all candles. What source our light comes from really does not matter, what does matter is how we spread and share out light with those around us; those looking for light and warmth. Our sharing will never diminish us; it will only diminish the darkness of ignorance. As a candle of understanding flairs with the light of love and understanding, compassion and faith, so the light of truth will lead our way to the greater truth of what we are all searching for; the way back to what we truly are.

Namaste, Bright Blessings, Truth, Love and Light. Chessie

HOW TO DIMINISH NEED

HOW TO DIMINISH NEED

                        Traditional Transylvanian house blessing.

“With Faith there is Love,

With Love there is Peace,

With Peace there is Blessing,

With Blessing there is God and,

With God there is no need...”

Have faith that all is being taken care of and love will grow,

As love fills and overflows you, peace will envelop you and you will begin to see your blessings,

As you acknowledge these blessings you begin to become closer to the Energy that is God,

And when you achieve this connection, there is no 'need' for you require nothing more.

Light, Love, Laughter and Bright Blessings, Chessie

© 2011 Chessie Roberts all rights reserved

ABOUT UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

 ALL ABOUT LOVE

© Rev. C.S. Roberts 2011, all rights reserved

 

I officiate a lot of weddings and usually write a ceremony that reflects what the couple is focused on for their life together. I get all kinds of topic requests for this focus; family, children, blended families, ancestors, people and pets joining, two becoming one...the list is long. Recently I was asked to write a wedding ceremony that was all and only about love.

This was new and I 'love' the idea. As I began to consider the couple’s request I was pleasantly surprised at the resulting creation...but why should it be anything but wonderful with love as its focus? After reading it I decided to take out all of the directions and the family names and share it with you.

As we anticipate the upcoming shift, change, whatever you wish to call it; because it fits so well in all aspects of life, what better topic to embrace than love? I share now with you the dissertation on love, the most important emotion you can embrace. (the words in parenthesis are add ins for this blog)

 

We are gathered this day to celebrate love in all its forms but especially the love that makes a life commitment between two people (humans, God and the planet).

This type of love is not afraid to make promises and work to keep them. It seeks not only to be, but to continue. It is based as much, if not more, on the hopes for the future as on the pleasures of the present.

 

This unconditional love does not manipulate or try to change, it allows both (all things) to be who (and what) they were; growing into who (and what) they are, all the while encouraging them to rise into who (and what) they will become. It is a letting go of all expectations and is an embracing with full acceptance, trust and celebration of your mortal person-hood (and its connection to source and your home planet).

Unconditional love in its mature state understands and realizes the joy that comes from knowing that each of you is happy; both in the others company and out of it; it is to give fully with no expectation of return but receiving anyway, and it is trusting completely. Love, true unconditional love, needs no reason for its existence, it just is.

 

Knowing what love, in its purest state, is only half of this equation. The other half is to understand that marriage (whether between people or you with yourself or with your life in general) is not just a simple love affair but it is a bit of an ordeal; an ordeal of the sacrifice of your ego to this new relationship (whatever that may be). The relationship of two becoming one while keeping your individual centers; of creating another family within families requires such a sacrifice. Therefore, sacrifice not one to the other but to your relationship.

 

We as humans are born of stardust and deepest oceans, of erupting volcanoes and the bones of the earth. In creating and celebrating this union you are celebrating the heritage of all of these things and the love of all humans from the dawn of time. In making this commitment to love, honor and respect each other, you share that which is best in all of us and give a moment of light to the world. (The more we connect through love, the better off everyone/thing will be)

 

Do you now commit to each other in love, honor and respect?

 

Do you now promise to communicate in love and kindness with each other even when you fear you may distress the other?

 

Do you promise to commit to your own wellbeing, of body, mind and spirit so that you can relate to each other in a loving, positive and healthy way in order to provide a healthy home for each other?

 

Do you commit to support and comfort each other in times of illness and health as long as love shall last?

 

Look at the one you love and tell them what is in your heart.

 

Behold these rings those who witness; bind these children by their troth; let them grow in love together, love now joined is never lost.

 

Heart to thee, life to thee, now and forever so mote it be

 

It is done; two are one,

 

We, our planet, our Source are one. No ceremony is needed, only remembering and reconnecting on a conscious, aware level is required. Decide today to embrace unconditional love for yourself and all around you and grow in strength, peace and grace. Love, Light, Laughter and Bright Blessings, Reverend C. S. Roberts

Fable of the Porcupines

                                                                  A prickle of porcupines

 

 

                        Fable of the Porcupines

It was the coldest winter ever and many animals were dying because of it. The porcupines, realizing that the situation had become dire, decided to group together to share their body heat. This way they covered and protected themselves and each other. A problem arose because the quills of each of the porcupines wounded their closest companions and even though they gave heat to each other the damage of the quills was making their decision problematic.

After a long discussion they decided that they needed to distance themselves one from the other to avoid hurting each other anymore that they had already. Because of the low temperature, the animals began to die, alone and frozen. The group then realized that another choice had to be made either they accept and adjust their quills while accepting and adjusting to the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth.

Wisely, the porcupines decided to go back to being a unified group, working together to do what they could to help each other. With their new adjusted attitude and insight, they learned to hold their quills in such a way as not to create so much damage to their fellows and to live with the little wounds that were still caused by the close relationship with their companions. By accepting and adjusting to those around them, each one was able to benefit from the heat, companionship and strength that came from the others. In this new mindset they were able to survive.

The lesson here is that the best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people in perfect situations, but the one in which each individual learns to live with the imperfections of, not only themselves, but those of others. In doing so can also admire and appreciate the other person's good qualities.

The unconditional love that we find in maturity, growth, acceptance and understanding will create a radiance that permeates everything that it touches. We also learn where to let go and where to hold on and all of this will generate healing, understanding, tolerance and love in everyone with whom it comes in contact. This spontaneous event is what raises vibrations, heals ALL things and allows us to become more consciously aware and closer to the whole balanced person that we desire to be.

Bright Blessings, Chessie

© Chessie Roberts 2010, all rights reserved,

YOUR THROAT CHAKRA

                                      CHAKRA FIVE

Chakra five is located at your throat and corresponds with your pharyngeal plexus This is the place of your self-expression.

The element here is ether but that is a subject under much dispute so for this particular train of thought I am going to use the element of sound.
The color that vibrates with this area is a bright sky blue and the root of the Sanskrit word for the throat area means ‘to purify’.

The job in the fifth chakra is communication, both verbal and nonverbal. This is where you develop the ability to express your creativity and skills. These include effective listening; the ability to accurately hear what another is trying to tell you while realizing that they are speaking from a different life experience than you. (That means their experience of an event shared with you will seem like a different event because of the difference in your backgrounds.)

Communication is the connecting principle that makes life possible and, in actuality, it is the act of extending your consciousness to create an understanding of your ideas in another. You use sound, vibration and rhythm to form words or symbols that are called the alphabet to write words, or maybe you use hand signs or the Braille alphabet to convey information and ideas to others. Just as your body uses DNA and nerve impulses, and your brains use chemicals and hormones to keep your body working properly, the world uses broadcast waves and frequencies to keep us in constant communication with each other. Communication is important on every level.
When you are out of balance in this area you may find that you talk too much or not enough. You may come across as arrogant or self-righteous. You will certainly not listen well or care about others’ views and opinions.

Words are our most powerful tool and with great power comes great responsibility. Please remember this and think before you speak, post or type because incorrect information can be very damaging and hurtful.

When you are in balance, people consider you thoughtful in your communications, you can express your needs and desires without being demanding or whiney, you are able to express your truth without hurting others and you are able to speak without shame or fear.

Knowing that you are in balance comes with your ability to speak your truth while truly hearing another and you are able to do this without judgment or shame.
The goal of the fifth chakra is to enable you to communicate ideas and abstract concepts and be understood, to be able to give information so that you can manifest creations on a physical plane that give order to your universe.

RECAP OF CHAKRA FIVE
1) Located at your throat
2) Is your self-expression
3) Your ability to communicate your hearts truth
4) Your ability to communicate your core values
5) Is the bridge that connects your head (intellect) with your body (senses)

Physicality; your bronchial and vocal apparatus, lungs, ears, hands, arms, neck, bones and teeth.

Issues; expression, communication of your own creativity, needs and desires, your ability to actively listen and understand both verbal and non-verbal communications.

Blocked By; lies you tell yourself

Unblocked By; seeing that you are OK as you are but if there parts of you that you feel are not worthy of you, change them in a positive and loving way and then…genuinely love yourself.

Bright Blessings, Chessie
© Chessie Roberts, 2010, all rights reserved