Gazing in the Mirror

February 7 - The Thread of Continuity

Everything science has taught me
strengthens my belief in the continuity
of our spiritual existence after death.
I believe in an immortal soul. Science
has proved that nothing disintegrates into
nothingness. Life and soul, therefore,
cannot disintegrate into nothingness,
and so are immortal.
~ Werner Von Braun

The theory of reincarnation believed in by many,
is that we live again on this earth (after the
experience of death) in a different form.
~ Ernest Holmes

The dictionary defines "continuity" as "the unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over a period of time". Continuity allows life to flow more evenly, requires less consideration. "It's just the way we have always done things", maybe not so good – depending. We need a balance of both – continuity and change in our lives.

In one of my online communities, continuity has been difficult but a thread continues with just enough energy to keep resonance with an identity. Turnover among key individuals must be undertaken with care because much of the community's memory resides in long-term, key members – certain community level skills and relationships may be disrupted – if such turnovers are not carefully handled. When key members plan on leaving the management of an organization, it is good to have a period of direct support to smooth the transition. An experienced member can provide "memory context" for newer, incoming active participants.

Many of us use community to bridge what might otherwise feel quite lonely. Most of us are not involved in our physical communities to quite the same degree that people in an earlier age were. Yet we enjoy knowing other people and in comparing our lives to theirs – finding the commonalities between us. We show love, help each other out and are there with support, compassion or encouragement when it is needed. We are well aware that we walk alone through life but we are never entirely alone. It is the push/pull of living that it is so. I often crave the peace and quiet of solitude but I can equally enjoy the loud and boisterous sounds of boys at play.

I found a convincing case for reincarnation in reading Brian Weiss, MD book, "Many Lives, Many Masters". My knowledge of such things is "second hand" in that regard. However when I made some effort in meditation regarding certain individuals of whom I am quite fond, I found what felt like "memories" of past lives with them. Interpretation is always difficult, so I don't put a lot of dependency on specifics though there have been some indications of such. What is more heart-felt for me and important is the sense that people who matter to me return to incarnated life with me, again and again. It is a kind of continuity that feels good to me.

When my friend Denise Van Vliet did an akashic reading for me, she surprised me with such past life indications about my husband, who is the father of my sons. When she described him as my mother and I as his rebellious son, well oh boy !!, did that ever explain some of the interactions that we have had in the 30+ years of marriage we have enjoyed so far. There was another "lifetime" that she told me about, when my husband and I were both male soldiers and had each other's backs, just as we do in business and on our farm today. No wonder he felt so "right", so familiar in nature to me, when we met. There is "continuity" in feeling these things.

One kind of continuity emerged for me personally last night. I fed my family a meatball and noodle soup said to date back to Alexander the Great (336–323 bc). It is said that when his soldiers complained to him, "Bizni tutma ach" — "Don't keep us hungry!" — Alexander sought the advice of Plato, Socrates and Aristotle, and Tutmaj was born. I learned about Tutmaj from Rumi (1207-1273 ad) in the poem translated by Coleman Barks titled "The Old Woman and the Falcon". And today in old Europe and Central Asia and in the United States of America in my home last night, I shaped the meatballs as women have done for ages and fed my family a nourishing meal. Humanity has actually changed very little at the core or even on the surface though it seems like things are very different now. A sense of continuity with ancient times and ways soothes and tempers the response to the changes that each age brings.

~ perspective

My continuity is like the roots
of a tree in our forest and change
is like the branches.
I enjoy having "traditions" with
my family, those little celebrations
that come around year after year
for us to share.
In some ways, I haven't changed
since my childhood but in many ways
I have changed, there is continuity
in the thread that runs through it all
and change to keep it from being boring.
Some values are ancient and worth
preserving, the ones I value the most
are the ones I wish to pass on to
my children, values of love and caring.
I know the outcome of this story is
to someday leave but I don't mind
even though I am glad for a way out,
I do not believe that going through
that door is the end.

#balance #celebration #change #family #interpretation #memories #reincarnation #relationships #solitude  #values