Sunday 9 August 2009

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Someone up there seems to have pressed the fast forward button. Life is moving so rapidly at the moment, there is a real risk of nausea from the spin.

I thought at first that it was just me – rushing around like a headless chicken, not being able to take even a brief moment to stop and breathe. But after speaking to countless others ‘on the path’, it seems to be a common theme.

The build up of energy from the retrograde planets seems to have reached a peak of intensity, and is causing a feeling of ‘melt down’ within many of us. Of course, this is purely to help us to let go of the inessential, so we can welcome in the new. But, at the time, the feeling of ‘going nuclear’ is pretty real and very much in focus.

The key lesson in the current season of fast-paced change and transformation seems to be connected to not taking ourselves quite so seriously. Laughter is a powerful tool, yet I struggle to remember the last time I truly laughed, and laughed and laughed until my belly hurt.

Laughter is a great release, and it helps us to gain a fresh perspective on life. When we laugh, we let go of blocks and obstacles within and feel lighter as a result.

The path of spirituality is – at times – a puzzling one. Once we step through the door of awareness, we can never go back. Once we switch that light on within, that allows us to explore the ever-expanding Universe, we cannot switch it off again. How can we ‘forget’ that expansiveness? Of course, this heightened sense of awareness often comes at a price – a need to take full responsibility for our actions and choices. Once we have stepped through that doorway; using ignorance as a plea doesn’t work.

Whilst we are all still learning, we cannot pretend that we do not know that every action has a consequence, that every thought has an effect not only on ourselves but on others as well. Sometimes there seems to be an enviable simple-ness to remaining a sheep and keeping way below the spiritual radar. Yet, whilst I sometimes fantasise about the joys of wearing rose-tinted spectacles again, I also realise that it is only by stepping through that doorway into the unknown, into a space of heightened awareness that I can grow and develop.

So, in order to cope with the ‘burden’ of awareness, laughter is key to help keep things in perspective.

So, just remember ‘Always look on the bright side of life…’

‘Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life... ‘


Eric Idle, The Life of Brian – Monty Python