Pennies from Heaven

Note from Suzanne: A nice treat from Sanaya today to end the year--a poem, given to me non-stop to remind us all that we are not alone and are well looked after. May 2012 bring you much love and happiness and an ever greater connection with Spirit.




Pick a penny off the street
A piece of copper that you’ve found.
Coincidence or just plain luck
To find it on the ground?

You look for signs in all you see
Signs to show you’re not alone.
A penny or a butterfly
That comes to you from points unknown.

The signs are all around you,
Yet often you don’t see
The messages we send you
You call it “synchronicity.”

But it’s not luck or chance, you see,
That brings these gifts to you
But love that’s sent from Spirit.
It’s our way of getting through.

So scoff not at those who see the signs.
They’re simply more aware,
And notice how we speak to them,
Producing pennies from thin air.

It’s easy to manipulate
The things you see with your plain eyes.
So open them and see our gifts
When we send you a surprise.

Pass it On

Note from Suzanne: I was stationed at the Pentagon the first time in 1995, working in the Navy section. There was a civilian man who wandered the halls every day handing out Werther’s candies to everyone he passed in the hallway on his lunch hour. It must have cost him a lot over the years, but he was out there every day. He looked a lot like Santa Claus with his round stomach and full, white beard. He never said a word as he passed out those little treats. He simply smiled softly and continued on his rounds. Most people didn’t even know his name. They just called him the Candy Man. Today, Sanaya makes reference to the Candy Man …

Your little dogs sit and beg for treats. “How cute they are!” you exclaim. And you give them exactly what they want. You cannot deny them the pleasure, for seeing them enjoy their treats brings you pleasure as well. Are you not at times just like your pets: begging for treats from those around you in the form of love and attention? We mention this not to make you feel bad, but to make a point. All creatures long to be loved, to the point of begging for it at times. When this behavior is reinforced, the begging continues. We merely wish you to see that you need not always do the begging, but hand out the treats liberally—not to get something in return, but for the sheer pleasure of giving the treat of your love to those around you.

Be today like the Candy Man and dole out love-treats to all you encounter, whether you know them or not … whether they acknowledge you or not. This can be in the form of a smile, a kind act, a loving word, or a loving gesture. Do this, and you will be the one who surely receives the greatest gift.

Do this, and you will be reinforcing love in your world.

Note from Suzanne: When I returned to the Pentagon in 2000 for my tour on the Joint Staff, I wandered up to the Navy hallways and discovered that the Candy Man was still making his daily rounds … still asking nothing in return, just handing out those little morsels of love.

On September 11, 2001, the Candy Man was one of the 189 people killed when the terrorists attacked the Pentagon. His name was James T. Lynch, Jr.

As Sanaya says, share your love today and every day with all you meet, asking nothing in return. Do this and help to spread the love, not the hate. In honor of The Candy Man, pass this message and the link to those you love.

Sacred and Holy

Evil does exist in your world, but not in the form of a devil any more than God is in the form of a bearded man in the clouds. There is no horned being with a pitchfork, no dark, bearded man with a glint in his eye. Evil is the result of a complete lack of understanding of who and what the human truly is. It is a lack of understanding that the human body cloaks the sacred, holy spirit. If one recognized the Spirit within others, one would bow down on their knees and worship That. If one truly recognized the Spirit within themselves, they would revere every breath they took as sacred. They would honor the body as sacred and care for it with utmost respect. Acts of evil would be impossible.

And so, what you know as evil is nothing more than ignorance and misunderstanding. Have compassion for those who commit evil, for they are blind and deaf to the spirit within themselves and others. It is not anger and judgment that will change them or their acts, but love and forgiveness. You may not see the effects of your love and forgiveness in one who is profoundly blind and deaf in this lifetime, but you will have honored the Spirit, and there is no greater act than this.

Until You Meet Again

Grief is a process. This you know. It has certain stages. You cannot escape grief when you have lost one who is dear to you, and why would you want to? Yes, we know: because it feels so very awful. The pain at times seems unbearable. Do you not see that grief is in proportion with how much you have loved? Your world is one of polarities. You are here to experience the full spectrum of feelings so as to fully know love. You touch grief and then you know it. Now you know how very much you loved.

The problem comes when you remain in a grief state. This is when understanding the truth that your loved ones still exist will help you to rise above the pain. They are still with you. You can feel them when you expand your beliefs and train the mind to be silent. Know also that you will see them again. Their love still surrounds you. In the meantime, your famous bard was quite correct. Is it not better to have loved and temporarily lost, than not to have loved that one at all? The pain will lessen. Bring them into your heart and hold them there until you meet again.

Unique

Do not concern yourself so much with the spiritual growth of others. Have you not enough to learn yourself? Others will come along at their own pace, like a seed sprouting. You cannot rush it. Most importantly, why do you want to? Is it because you want more peace in their presence? Then is this your challenge or theirs? It is the responsibility of no other to bring you peace. Is it because you want others to experience the happiness and peace you have found? A laudable goal, but could any other have told you in words how to get to the place where you find yourself now? Perhaps a grain of wisdom here or there, but it was your path … earned step by precious step. Would you have had another push you down it?

Relax and enjoy your own journey. Enjoy observing others on their own. Should they ask for your help, take them by the hand and give them a gentle nudge, then let go. It is all about the journey. Although all spirit is One, in this experience you call the human life each being is here to experience it in their own way. That is how you grow—like a wall of individually shaped stones, with each contributing their own unique shape to the whole.

The Golden Egg

The golden years. Why do you call them this? Gold is your most precious metal and holds much value. The golden years are a time to be treasured as well, for by this time you have unraveled many of the mysteries of this life you are living. The veil has lifted a bit.

For some, the later years are not so pleasant, filled with loss and the challenges of an aging body. Try, please, to tap into the sea of wisdom available to you once the veil lifts and see the body for what it is—a vehicle for the spirit. The spirit is far more precious than any golden trinket. You are that spirit, not the body. Do not disparage the signs of aging, but welcome them as a sign that you have gained much wisdom and will go on to gain more still.

Few lives are ever wasted. Some lift the veil higher than others, but in most cases there is soul growth. This is the golden egg for which all search, the grand prize ... understanding finally who you are and that you never truly grow old.

A Christmas Gift

On this day when so many gather to celebrate joy and love together, there will nevertheless be strife. “Interpersonal conflict” you call this, and it is quite common in your world. Today, on this day when you celebrate the birth of one who understood spiritual Truth, we advise you to follow his guidance and be only love.

If it is your habit to be a peacemaker, then so be it, but do not worry so much about others’ happiness. When you run about trying to make others happy, do you not actually experience a bit of fear and worry inside? Give, instead, the gift of love. Take a deep breath. Know that the others’ task and path is to find love as well. It is not your responsibility to find it for them, merely to find your own. If, in radiating naught but love, others should find that love within themselves, then this would truly be a gift, would it not? Allowing yourself to not worry whether others are content is actually a gift to yourself.

Give the gift of love by simply being love, and the miracle of Christmas will occur again.

Embracing Life

Forsake no other for the sake of yourself. What you withhold from another you withhold from yourself. You look through human eyes and see the eyes of another. See instead the eyes of the spirit in all that you see. In the eyes of a baby you see innocence. In the eyes of one who has walked a crooked path you see the effects of living as a separate being. Bring that one back into the fold. Embrace him with love as you would an innocent child. In so doing, you are embracing yourself.

It will all become quite clear on what you know as Judgment Day, when no other judges you save yourself. On that beautiful day of transition, the only question asked of yourself is, “Have I loved enough?”

Shoulds

Your expectations cause you angst. You think you know exactly how something should turn out. You place upon a situation and upon other people all of your “shoulds.” And do not others place their “shoulds” upon you as well? What if these “shoulds” should conflict? Then you will surely encounter conflict.

“Too many chiefs and not enough Indians.” One of your humorous phrases, but very wise when you are experiencing conflict. Do you wish to deconflict your life? Set aside your expectations and all of the “shoulds” – even those you place upon yourself. Now relax and let the one Chief guide you. “Thy will be done, oh Wise One” would be an excellent attitude to start with. Then sit back and unwind. Delegation is a wonderful thing, and your Source never minds carrying your burdens for you.

Free Spirit

You look for figures in the clouds … discernable shapes which you can identify and say, “Look at that! The cloud has formed an object. It is a sign!” We have many means of giving you signs that you are not alone. You have accepted the group belief that life is one way only. When you step outside of this mentality and see with new eyes, the signs are abundant. Reality shifts. What you thought was your world takes on a new appearance. With these signs and these shifts in reality you open to greater beliefs and greater experiences.

This is what life is about, and God rejoices, for is not all of life the Great Spirit experiencing greater and greater experiences? As you step outside of your self-imposed limitations, you free Spirit to enjoy and create newer and greater things. Be a free spirit and rejoice.

The Bottom Line

(Looking for "Life After Birth"? It follows this morning's entry from Sanaya...)

It all comes down to love. That is the bottom line, and the top, and the middle. Why are the majority of your song lyrics focused on this subject? Why do all struggle at some point in their lives to find it? Why is it the motivating force behind all efforts, whether recognized or not? It is because love is an actual energy, a force, a thing. It forms life, itself. It is Life, itself. All comes into being because of or out of love, and you are that.

When you react out of love, you are at your most peaceful and genuine, for you are no longer living a lie that denies your true Self. Be loving. Be love, itself. Be yourself, and you cannot go wrong.

Love cannot be harmed. Love cannot die. Love simply is. It is a state of being. It is being, itself. Now go back and reread these words. In doing so, substitute any word you know for “God” in place of the word “love,” and perhaps you will understand why it is said that God is Love.

Life After Birth?

NOTE FROM SUZANNE: THE FOLLOWING IS NOT FROM SANAYA. THIS IS A WONDERFUL STORY GIVEN TO ME BY MY FRIEND, NITA. WE DO NOT KNOW THE SOURCE OF THIS THOUGHT-PROVOKING ALLEGORY, BUT IT'S TOO GREAT NOT TO SHARE. ENJOY, THEN COME BACK AND ENJOY SANAYA WITH ME EACH MORNING:

Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived. Weeks passed and the twins developed in the womb. As their awareness grew, they laughed for joy: joy for their conception and joy to be alive. Time passed and they began to explore the womb. When they found the cord that led to their mother and gave them life, they exclaimed, “Wow! What a great mother that she gives us life!”

Weeks became months, and they both grew. It got tight in there, and there was an intermittent squeezing that got uncomfortable and frightening. The twins noticed how much each was changing. “What does this mean?” one asked. The other said, “It means that our stay in this world is coming to an end.” “But I don’t want to go!” one said. “But maybe there’s life after birth!” the other replied. “But how can that be? We will lose the cord, and how is life possible without it? Besides, we have seen evidence that others have been here before us, and none have returned to tell us that there is life after birth. No, this is the end.” And the one twin became despondent. “If conception ends in birth, what’s the purpose of life in the womb? It’s meaningless! Maybe there is no mother at all!” “But there has to be,” the other replied. “How else did we get here? How do we remain alive? Have you ever seen our mother?” the first twin asked. “Maybe she lives only in our minds. Maybe we made her up, because the idea made us feel good.”

So, the last days in the womb were different for each of the twins. One twin worried constantly, lived in fear and deep questioning. The other had faith and trust and waited expectantly. At the time of birth, the twins opened their eyes and found a world beyond their wildest dreams. They cried and their family smiled.

It has been said that at a good birth, when the baby cries, the family smiles. At a good death, the family cries and the dying one smiles.

Have no Fear

Push fear aside. It is a human emotion. Fear is the opposite of love. You are here to return to Love by experiencing its opposite. Have you experienced it enough? You feel a pang of fear at the thought of going Home. “My work is not done here,” you think, and if you feel fear at the thought of leaving, then you are correct. When you can feel peace and radiate love in every situation, then you have no need to experience life in human form. But perhaps you are here for the good of those who still feel much fear.

There are many ways to serve. May this serve as a reminder that love heals all ills and banishes the fear. Just as darkness does not exist, but is merely a lack of light, fear does not exist. Bring love to the situation and banish all fear.

Free to Choose

Many a human has made a poor decision. Not all choices made are in one’s best interest. Some cling to their decisions as if they were belongings which must be protected at all costs. In doing so, the cost grows. Life is about change and growth. It is quite all right to change one’s mind, to change one’s perception, and even one’s direction. Be prepared to loosen your grip on former habits, old ways, and decisions you thought were set in stone. Some decisions hang like a stone around the neck. Let them go and set yourself free. Do not stunt your growth out of pride of ownership over your decisions. Be proud, instead, that you are free to choose.

With Exuberance

Your Source is not separate from you, but It is larger than you. Feel It settle in your heart, this presence, this Christ Consciousness, this knowing that God is not a being, that God is “being,” itself. Can you worship that? You need not worship at all. Simply participate in that joyous unfolding of existence—of Life in all its glory. You are that.

The real you is Life, itself. We are not talking of a body. We are not talking of a mind. Never mind the name or labels. These are what hold you back from knowing your magnificence. Let them all go, and what remains? Existence. Love. Being. That is God. But that being-ness is not separate. It is your essence. Do you see now?

Go forth this day with joy in knowing this. Do not shout to the world with exuberance in your joy, “I am God!” for many will not understand. And until you can look upon the poorest beggar and the mightiest tyrant and say, “And that is God as well,” then you do not understand. Until you can look beyond all external appearances and all physical actions and see the true essence of Being-ness in all things, then we simply ask you to express love in all you do. Do this and realization will come.

Universal Lessons

Note from Suzanne: This past week I faced a couple of big interpersonal challenges. The sun is back out today. This morning Sanaya spoke directly to me at first, and then to all of us …

Do you not see that what you perceived as some of the best messages came to you this past week when you were facing challenges of your own? Yes, to you it seems a blessing when all is going smoothly, but look how you grew. Look how you had a chance to put into practice the teachings. Look how the teachings we gave “specifically to you” (so you thought) spoke so very clearly to others.

Emotions, feelings, reactions, experiences are universal in your world. Why do you think so many respond to these teachings by saying, “Sanaya was speaking directly to me!”? Because we were and we are. You are all one. You think you are separate, but you are all children of the same God, the same Source. Your physical DNA may seem to separate you, but your spiritual make-up is identical, matched with its Source. You share the same spiritual “genes,” so to speak. This is why you reach out to a brother or sister when they ache, for you understand pain.

Always remember, the pain is temporary and it is a source of growth. Embrace it, then rise above.

With New Eyes

See with new eyes.  This is the remedy for when you experience discomfort.  If you are unhappy or less than joyful, if your thoughts constantly return to something that makes you uncomfortable, a mere shift in perception will cure your ills.

 

It is quite easy to get stuck in one way of seeing.  Know that with this word "seeing" we mean thinking and perceiving.  The human brain actually creates neuronal pathways in accordance with your thoughts, creating the same hormonal reactions and thus the same emotions in response to your habitual thoughts and perceptions.  You can and oft do become addicted of sorts even to the most unpleasant of emotions.  The body craves a dose of fear or anger.

 

You wish to break the addiction?  See with new eyes.  When you experience the undesired reaction—the fear, the anger, the unrest—shift your perception.  See from another's eyes.  Whose eyes will you see from?  Hopefully one with compassion and love for all others, for these are the antidotes to all ills. 

 

Practice this shift in perception enough times, and when a situation or person who would have previously caused you angst comes into your awareness, you will respond in a wholly and holy new way.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict arises when two or more do not see eye to eye. You have different ways of approaching the same goal. One wishes to go in one direction, the other in another. Oft times there is confusion about the destination itself. The more you diverge, the more negativity surrounds the situation, and like magnets repelling each other, you cannot seem to come together. This is called reverse polarity. It does not work.

So what is the solution? Agree to disagree. Meet in the middle and set new goals, even if this means a parting of the ways. Surround the situation with love and surround the one with whom you feel in conflict with well wishes. You do not all walk the same path. You will eventually discover the reason your paths did cross, but cross they did—at an angle, not in parallel. This you call conflict, but there is a reason for every meeting, every crossing. What have you learned? See the situation not with bitterness, but as yet another learning point in this school you call Life.

Two Posts Today ...

#1. On Right and Wrong

You have an expression, “Do not waste your breath.” To you this means to try fruitlessly to defend yourself. This is good advice. What purpose does it do to state your case? Does it matter if one is right and another wrong? What if both are right in their own minds? What does “right” mean? You give it meaning and then become stuck in defending that meaning. And what if the meaning should change, as surely it will, for all things change as growth is experienced? And so, the effort spent in defending one’s actions, thoughts, and words served what purpose? To antagonize another? To make another feel better or worse?

Is it your goal to show another how to think? Why do you feel the need to do so? Surrender and allow all to think as they will, including yourself.

You cannot waste a breath, for with each breath you experience and learn. Once again we advise you to step back with compassion for all others as well as yourself, for you are learning through the angst and through the joy. All is in perfect order. Relax and live with joy.