Up, Up and Away In my beautiful balloon…would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?

We could float among the stars together, you and I

For we can fly, we can fly…

Remember that song? From The 5^th Dimension, the ever cool and new age-y pop group from the 60’s and 70’s, the same group that gave us the hit song, Age of Aquarius? I loved those songs, and when I was a little girl, I used to sing them at the top of my lungs.

With that melody floating around in my head, I am presently up, up, and away in a beautiful balloon of sorts, en flight from New York to Los Angeles, the City of Angels.  I thought I would be slogging through some writing projects during this long flight. But lo and behold, I have come across a piece of paper serendipitously tucked in with my notes, a reading that has tears rolling down my face, my concerned flight partner offering me tissues.  Up here in the clouds, I am now reminded of my own angels.

The words of this reading resonate deeply with me, so much so that I want to share them with you.  They speak to the principles that guide my work as an Interfaith Minister, as a spiritual counselor, as the creator and owner of Sacred Stages LLC, and as a human being.  And this philosophy has been the song in my heart since I was that little kid, belting my face off at 6 years old in my garage, to the tune of Up, Up and Away.  I am floating among the stars.

I hope these words serve you in your seeking and inspire you to float among the stars…

Adapted from “New Paradigm Teaching” from the Silence of the Heart: Reflections of the Christ Mind by Paul Ferrini.

New paradigm spiritual teachers claim no authority over others. They do not pretend to have the answers for others. They speak only of their experience. They invite others to share in what they have learned from their experience.

They do not preach. They do not try to fix. They simply accept others as they are and encourage others to find their own truth.

They empower. They see the light in others and encourage it. They don’t close their eyes to the darkness. They do not deny the darkness or go to battle against it. They know there is nothing wrong, no evil to oppose, no battles to fight. They just gently encourage the Light. They know the light itself will heal all wounds.

New paradigm teachers do not try to heal others. They encourage others to heal themselves through self acceptance and self-love.

The old paradigm teacher wants to heal others and save the world. The new paradigm teacher knows that others are fine the way they are and the world is already redeemed.

Why is this? Has the new paradigm teacher closed her eyes? Doesn’t she see the suffering in the world, the environmental catastrophe, the endemic violence? Oh yes, she sees the struggle and the pain, but she has a different interpretation of them .She doesn’t believe that people are guilty or that the world is doomed. She sees the vast call for love. She sees the universal cry for acceptance and understanding. And this is what she gives.

Not fixing. Not salvation. Not intellectual remedies for physical problems.

Does she give food and medical supplies if they are needed? Of course, but she remembers to whom she is giving them. She remembers the call and she answers it.

She knows that food is helpful, but it is not the solution to the problem. It is not what is being asked for.

She looks in to the eyes of others and sees their divinity as her own, and asks how she can be of help.

What is asked for is love. Love is the only food. Love is what she gives.